Resources
Governance
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana is governed by its Constitution and Canons. Brief descriptions of each governing body as well as various important committees follow bellow. Reports of the actions of the various bodies listed below since 2002 can be obtained within the relevant diocesan journal for each year.
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee consists of three presbyters and three lay persons elected by the diocesan convention, each of whom serve a term of three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. The Standing Committee oversees the legal and canonical life of the diocese. In the absence of a Bishop or Bishop Coadjutor, the Standing Committee functions as the Ecclesiastical Authority.
The following persons currently serve on the Standing Committee:
The Rev. Dr. James H. Warnock, President
The Very Rev. Brian G. Grantz, Secretary
The Rev. Danial H. Martins
Ms. Cynthia Guzzo
Ms. Pamela Barnes Harris
Mr. James Stanley
Approved minutes of past meetings are now being kept here for review.
To contact the Standing Committee, please email its president at jwarnoc@yahoo.com.
Diocesan Council
The Diocesan Council consists of the Ecclesiastical Authority, or the designate of the Ecclesiastical Authority, as presiding officer, six members of the clergy and six lay persons. Two members of the clergy and two lay people are elected from each of the three Deaneries, each of who serve a term of two years. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. The Diocesan Council helps to oversee the financial and programmatic resources of the diocese.
The following persons currently serve on the Diocesan Council:
The Rev. Canon David L. Hyndman (Western Deanery)
Ms. Marianita Porterfield (Westerb Deanery)
The Rev. Andrew J. Hanyzewski (Western Deanery)
Mr. Kevin Warren (Western Deanery)
The Rev. Susan B. Haynes (Central Deanery)
Mrs. Janis Ross (Central Deanery)
The Rev. Larry Biller (Central Deanery)
Ms. Cynthia Keck (Central Deanery)
The Rev. Daniel Layden (Eastern Deanery)
Mrs. Lee Gast (Eastern Deanery)
The Rev. Richard Lightsey (Eastern Deanery)
Mr. Bill Munn (Eastern Deanery)
Mr. Doug Kroll (ex-officio, Finance Chairman)
Mrs. Sharon Katona (ex-officio, Treasurer)
The Rt. Rev. Edward S. Little II (ex-officio, Bishop)
The Rev. Canon John E. Schramm (ex-officio, Secretary)
Approved minutes of past meetings are now being kept here for review.
To contact the Diocesan Council, please email the Bishop, its presiding officer, at bishop@ednin.org.
Commission on Ministry
The Commission on Ministry (COM) is comprised of both clergy (priests and deacons) and lay persons. The COM is to interview persons who think they have a calling to ordained ministry whether it be for diaconate or priesthood. These persons have already met with the Bishop and have received his recommendation to interview with the COM. The initial interview is done with a sub-committee within the person's geographical location. This sub-committee then makes their recommendation as a whole as to whether this person should enter into the discernment process. The person's Rector will then assist with forming a Parish Discernment Group (PDG) who will use guidelines from a booklet from the COM to steer this person through the process, which usually lasts at least 6 months. A member of the COM will also be appointed to act as a mentor who will periodically check on this person's progress. Upon completion of the discernment process this persons Vestry will make a recommendation to the Bishop for this person to be admitted to postulancy which leads to another interview with the COM. With their endorsement to the Bishop then postulancy follows. The Bishop and the Vocations Director make reports to the COM until the time for recommendation for candidacy and ordination. The COM and Standing Committee meets annually for an overnight meeting with postulants and candidates for further interviews, socializing, sharing and worship services. The COM is also responsible for reviewing applications for Continuing Education grants for clergy and laity.
To contact the Commission on Ministry, please email its chair, Mrs. Anne Donnelly, at episcopal2@verizon.net. To contact the Vocations Director, please email the Rev. Henry G. Randolph, Jr. at vocdir@stdavidelkhart.org.
Please click here for more information concerning the discerning a call to holy orders, resources for those in the ordination process, and documents related to the Northern Indiana School of Theology.
Congregational Revitalization & Development
The Congregational Revitalization & Development Committee is the body through which the diocese actively seeks out opportunities for growth and determines diocesan support. Its mission is to develop plans with congregations for revitalization by presenting the Gospel, implementing strategies for renewal of faith, and strengthening actions for mission; and to organize and implement plans for the expansion of God's Kingdom in our diocese through the development of new congregations.
For more information on the work of the Congregational Revitalization & Development Committee, please contact the Rev. David L. Hyndman at dlhyndman@sbcglobal.net.
Social Outreach
The Social Outreach Committee oversees a fund in the diocesan accounts which provides for the interest generated to be available for distribution for worthy projects or ministries within the diocese. A small committee with persons representing various areas of the diocese meets several times a year to consider applications for financial assistance from the fund. Such projects should fit within the parameters of helping those in need which our Lord Jesus articulated, as recorded in Matthew 25:35-36: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." The primary responsibility of the social outreach committee is to receive, evaluate, and respond to requests for funds from parishes within the diocese. A secondary purpose of the committee is to make recommendations to the Diocesan Council as to possible recipients of the funds designated for the Millennium Development Goals.
For more information on the work of the Social Outreach Committee, please contact the Rev. Deacon Janice Miller at dcnjanicemiller@sbcglobal.net.
Diocesan Foundation
The Diocese of Northern Indiana Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that supports the religious, educational, and charitable work of the dicoese. It oversees funds in the following areas: education, outreach, congregation revitalization, and new congregations. Parishes, missions, and organizations affliated with the diocese may apply to the Foundation for loans.
For more information on the work of the Foundation, please contact the Bishop at bishop@ednin.org. He serves as an ex-officio member of its Board of Directors.
Diocesan Council on Congregational Excellence
With the successful launch of the Church Development Institute in the Diocese of Northern Indiana, the Diocesan Council on Congregational Excellence has completed its work. This committee, which was orginially called the Whatever It Takes Task Force has been instrumental in the diocese in reflecting upon, articulating, and living out its core values. Thank you to the committee's members, who over the years volunteered to do this necessary work.
Companeros en Christo
Companeros en Christo (Companions in Christ) is the name our of companion diocese committee. The Diocese of Honduras has been our companion since 1996. The relationship has produced much good over the years. Four churches, a conference center chapel, two vicarages, school support, orphan support, mutual contacts, trips back and forth, deep friendships with Hondurans and missionaries there—all of these plus an immense outpouring of support in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch have been the partial results of the relationship. In the future we hope to see more of the same, as we share some of our resources with the poorest diocese in the Episcopal Church. Yet in many ways it is one of the richest dioceses in terms of enthusiasm, evangelism, and growth. We hope to be beneficiaries of that enthusiasm for the Gospel that has taken Honduras from five congregations in the early 1980īs to over 165 today.
To learn how you can serve with the Companeros en Christo, please email the Rev. Canon John E. Schramm at stthomas@kconline.com.
General Convention Deputation
The General Convention is the governing body of the Episcopal Church that meets every three years. The Convention is a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. The work at Convention is carried out by deputies and bishops representing each diocese. During its triennial meeting deputies and bishops consider a wide range of important matters facing the Church. Our diocese sends a delegation of four clerical and four lay deputies, in addition to our bishop. Our diocesan convention elects deputies two years prior to the year in which they will serve. The 77th General Convention will be held in July of 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Diocesan Convention
The legislative power of the Diocese is vested in the Convention. Both clergy and lay persons deliberate as one body. Parishes are entitled to send three delegates and missions send one. For more information about this year's convention as well as journals of past conventions since 2002, please click here.
Congregational Development Institute
In 2008, the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana, has joined with several other Episcopal dioceses in the United States in offering the training of the Church Development Institute (CDI). A church development initiative was announced by Bishop Edward Little in his convention address in 2006. This initiative intends to equip the parishes of the diocese in their various missions as well as provide a diocesan structure to encourage and support the parishes. For more information about CDI, please click here.
Documents & Forms
Clergy and parish secretaries are encouraged to use this page to download various diocesan documents and forms.
Prayers
We encourage you to pray for the Church, our diocese, and the world. The following are some suggested resources: the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, the Honduran Cycle of Prayer, the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, the Daily Office, and the Book of Common Prayer. Please also consider praying one of the prayers listed at the bottom of each page of the Electronic Beacon each time you visit.
Links
Please consult our links page for a variety resources and publications.