To My Dear Friends in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas: After a long ...
To My Dear Friends in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas: After a long ...
To My Dear Friends in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas: After a long ...
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<strong>To</strong> <strong>My</strong> <strong>Dear</strong> <strong>Friends</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Episcopal</strong> <strong>Diocese</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kansas</strong>:<strong>After</strong> a <strong>long</strong> period <strong>of</strong> discernment, my wife Lisa has accepted a call to be <strong>the</strong> Rector <strong>of</strong> St.James <strong>the</strong> Less <strong>in</strong> Northfield, Ill<strong>in</strong>ois. So I am writ<strong>in</strong>g to announce that <strong>the</strong> Senuta family will bemov<strong>in</strong>g to Chicago <strong>in</strong> late December to share our gifts and serve Christ <strong>in</strong> a new place.You may be wonder<strong>in</strong>g what could be so compell<strong>in</strong>g to make us move to Chicago <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> middle<strong>of</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter. Fair question. And <strong>the</strong> only answer could be <strong>the</strong> gentle call <strong>of</strong> God’s Spirit beckon<strong>in</strong>gus to new challenges and possibilities which require deeper faith centered on Him. The w<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Spirit blows where it will and it seems very clearly to be tak<strong>in</strong>g us to <strong>the</strong> “w<strong>in</strong>dy city.” Howappropriate.It probably goes without say<strong>in</strong>g that I share this joyful news with a certa<strong>in</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> sadness.<strong>After</strong> nearly ten years <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>in</strong> this diocese, I am grateful beyond words for this community.I have been so blessed to meet and share <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry with so many faithful disciples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> LordJesus Christ both young and old alike. I am a better person for hav<strong>in</strong>g served here. I will alwaysconsider myself a member <strong>of</strong> this diocese, and a piece <strong>of</strong> my heart will always be here with you.I won’t say goodbye, because our journey <strong>in</strong> Christ goes on toge<strong>the</strong>r. But I would like to sayfarewell and express how grateful I am to have been your Youth Missioner. There will be acelebration <strong>of</strong> our nearly ten years <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry toge<strong>the</strong>r on December 17. The details for <strong>the</strong> timeand location for this event will be com<strong>in</strong>g soon. I hope to see you <strong>the</strong>re.I will f<strong>in</strong>ish up my service to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Diocese</strong> around December 4th. Rest assured that Youth M<strong>in</strong>istryrema<strong>in</strong>s a high priority <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Episcopal</strong> <strong>Diocese</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kansas</strong>, and that our program will cont<strong>in</strong>ue tobe strong and vibrant. Bishop Wolfe plans to convene an Advisory Committee for Youth M<strong>in</strong>istryto prepare for <strong>the</strong> immediate and <strong>long</strong> term future <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Diocesan Youth Program. This groupwill meet <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> com<strong>in</strong>g weeks.Lisa and I ask for your prayers as we make this transition. For both our family and our m<strong>in</strong>istry.We know <strong>the</strong>re will be challenges and joy ahead. Thank you aga<strong>in</strong> for your ongo<strong>in</strong>g love andsupport. I am deeply grateful for each one <strong>of</strong> you and how you have impacted my life and myfaith journey. And I'm so joyful as I look back on <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry we've shared toge<strong>the</strong>r. We can beproud <strong>of</strong> what we've done as we look ahead to a new chapter.Bless<strong>in</strong>gs and Peace,Chad SenutaYouth MissionerThe <strong>Episcopal</strong> <strong>Diocese</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kansas</strong>
Nov. 7, 2011Bishop Dean E. Wolfe has announced that Chad Senuta, diocesan Youth Missioner, will beleav<strong>in</strong>g that position on Dec. 4. Senuta’s wife, <strong>the</strong> Rev. Lisa Senuta, has accepted a call tobecome rector <strong>of</strong> St. James <strong>the</strong> Less <strong>Episcopal</strong> Church <strong>in</strong> Northfield, Ill., <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Diocese</strong> <strong>of</strong>Chicago, beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g Jan. 15. She has been serv<strong>in</strong>g as assistant rector at St. Michael and AllAngels <strong>in</strong> Mission.In mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> announcement, Bishop Wolfe said, “It has been my privilege to work with some <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>est youth m<strong>in</strong>isters <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> church, and I place Chad at <strong>the</strong> front <strong>of</strong> that dist<strong>in</strong>guished group.Chad has changed <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> youth m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>in</strong> our diocese. His commitment to our youth, hispastoral sensitivity, his faithfulness and his lov<strong>in</strong>g care for our young people have made youthm<strong>in</strong>istries <strong>the</strong> gateway to <strong>the</strong> Christian faith for a significant portion <strong>of</strong> this diocese.”In reflect<strong>in</strong>g on his service as Youth Missioner, Senuta said, “<strong>After</strong> nearly 10 years <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>in</strong>this diocese, I am grateful beyond words for this community. I have been so blessed to meetand share <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry with so many faithful disciples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord Jesus Christ, both youngand old alike. I am a better person for hav<strong>in</strong>g served here. I will always consider myself amember <strong>of</strong> this diocese, and a piece <strong>of</strong> my heart will always be here with you. I won’t saygoodbye, because our journey <strong>in</strong> Christ goes on toge<strong>the</strong>r. But I would like to say farewell andexpress how grateful I am to have been your Youth Missioner.”Senuta has served as leader <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> diocesan youth program s<strong>in</strong>ce June 2002. Dur<strong>in</strong>g hism<strong>in</strong>istry he has expanded and enhanced several programs for youth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> diocese, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> Bible-read<strong>in</strong>g weekend Miqra, Happen<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> urban-m<strong>in</strong>istry experience MissionPalooza,camp and <strong>Kansas</strong>’s participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> triennial <strong>Episcopal</strong> Youth Event. He also has addedo<strong>the</strong>rs, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> New Beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs weekend for middle school students and <strong>the</strong> Fall FunFest, which encourages youth to <strong>in</strong>vite friends to learn more about <strong>the</strong> diocesan youth m<strong>in</strong>istryprogram. He also has <strong>of</strong>fered special tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and support weekends for those who work <strong>in</strong>parish youth m<strong>in</strong>istry, and he has created an extensive youth music m<strong>in</strong>istry with <strong>the</strong> “MustardSeeds” band.He also cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>the</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>tment <strong>of</strong> 15-20 high school youth each year as diocesan peerm<strong>in</strong>isters, which provides <strong>the</strong>m with skills <strong>in</strong> leadership and m<strong>in</strong>istry, and he has helped educatefuture youth leaders through <strong>the</strong> youth m<strong>in</strong>istry summer <strong>in</strong>tern program he established <strong>in</strong> 2005,which gives college students unique hands-on skills and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> lead<strong>in</strong>g parish youthprograms.Bishop Wolfe said that Senuta’s extensive tenure has provided “a last<strong>in</strong>g stability to thisprogram.” He added, “Personally, it has been an absolute joy to share <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istry with Chad. Thepresence <strong>of</strong> Lisa, Bethany and Mabel <strong>in</strong> our common life has simply added to that joy. I wish
Chad every bless<strong>in</strong>g, and I know he will br<strong>in</strong>g extraord<strong>in</strong>ary gifts to any future endeavor heundertakes.”Prior to lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> diocesan youth program, Senuta had been a high school and middle schoolEnglish teacher. He also had served as a youth <strong>in</strong>tern, worship leader and peer m<strong>in</strong>ister at St.Francis Canterbury while he was a student at <strong>Kansas</strong> State University <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> early 1990s.<strong>To</strong> plan for <strong>the</strong> future, Bishop Wolfe said he will ga<strong>the</strong>r an advisory group with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> next monthto help him “<strong>in</strong> discern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> next steps <strong>in</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g leadership for our youth m<strong>in</strong>istries.”The bishop said, “We’ve had a tradition <strong>of</strong> truly outstand<strong>in</strong>g youth missioners for some time <strong>in</strong>this diocese. I <strong>in</strong>tend for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Episcopal</strong> <strong>Diocese</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kansas</strong> to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be a leader <strong>in</strong> youthm<strong>in</strong>istries <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Episcopal</strong> Church. We will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to support creative youth programs likeMiqra, camp and Happen<strong>in</strong>g, which can serve as models <strong>of</strong> excellence. Our commitment is to<strong>the</strong> best youth m<strong>in</strong>istries that we possibly can <strong>of</strong>fer.”Tentative plans call for a diocesan ga<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g to celebrate Senuta’s m<strong>in</strong>istry on Dec. 17. Moredetails will be available <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> next few days.
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