ALL SOULS Work Begins

The news blackout is over.  Almost 4 weeks after moving in we finally got Internet access at my home office.  Without it our communication was greatly hindered.  Good News - we are up and running and we have much to report.

The farewell to Michigan friends and church members was extremely difficult.  For a few, we have known them the 22 years we lived in Flint.  But through the tears and celebrations we have made our way to the westside of Indy to a small western suburb called Brownsburg.   We have rented a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in hopes that as the ministry grows we will one day buy a home in the area.  For now the boxes are unpacked and a few pictures hung and it really is starting to feel like home.

We officially started the new work with All Souls Anglican Mission on September 1st.  We are meeting on Wednesday nights in a beautiful room on the back of their old barn.  It has a loft and space for 15 or so for a home house church.  Week one we had 6 of us, but jumped up to 10 the next week when we did a house blessing at our condo.   This last week we began a short Bible study on  the "25 Benchmarks of a Follower of Christ" starting the evening with pear cobbler and ending with Compline.

The first few days after we arrived in Indy in mid-August, it "happened" that Bishop +Ron Jackson was able to visit with us and other Anglican leaders in mid-Indiana.  At a dinner gathering at Joe & Mickie Murphy's home we enjoyed great fellowship and a powerful time of prayer and eucharist.  It was the perfect way to begin our new work- having our Bishop laying hands and praying for this new season of ministry.  God's timing is perfect.

Currently we are getting some of the business side of the work in order, including updating the Bylaws and web presence, seeing how most people are finding new churches online before they go and visit.   We are following leads and meeting new contacts.  In this start up phase, we will not be meeting on Sundays until we can develop a more critical mass.  This has allowed me to respond to a request from Bishop +Ron to assist him in promoting, resourcing and developing new work in the Diocese of the Great Lakes.  My official title (I'm not much into titles) is Canon for Church Planting.   This means I hope to visit several parishes around the diocese challenging them to think about raising up church planters or even birthing new works out of their congregations, or at least supporting in prayer and financially those who are doing this work in their area of the diocese.  There is $1000/month contribution from the ADGL starting in Jan. to allow me to do this at this time.  This is quite an answer to prayer.

Deb is doing well. She in many ways has made some significant sacrifices of leaving friends and a job she loved to come with me to Indy.  She is asking to Lord to open up new opportunities for her here but at times life is a little slow and lonely.    A final personal note.  I had shoulder surgery just before we left Michigan.  Very much a blessing and have found relief from a lot of discomfort from impingement problems and a torn tendon.   I have experienced more recovery pain than I anticipated, particularly at night.  Pray for a full restoration of motion and relief from the night pain when lying down.

Excited about what God is doing!   Dave+ & Deb

Week #29: Packed & Loaded

It has been very busy the past weeks as we have prepared to move out of our Flushing, MI home.  Having closed on our house June 17 we were able to rent it for 30 more days as we sorted, cleaned, packed and downsized.

We had a moving sale the end of June and sold several couches and chairs, 2 captain beds and old refrig from the garage and a heavy standup freezer from the basement.  It was both good downsize and simplify but the "stuff" carries memories.  Now that we look back, if we had not had the sale we would not have had enough room in the moving truck.  The Lord is gracious!

Each step along the way we have seen the Lord at work.  From providing enough folks for packing and cleaning to finding a big box along the road for an oversize doll house we can not quite part with yet with hopes of grand daughters visiting us someday.

As of Monday we can confirm that we found a rental condo in Brownsburg that we will start to rent in August.  It is 10 minutes from Whitestown where our first house church group is gathering and not overlapping where some of the other Anglican ministries are based.   When we were in Indy July 7-9 looking for rentals, the Lord directed us to a realtor who was the college roommate of a member of a former member of New Wine in Flint.  Jon was so helpful!  He made arrangemets for us to visit 5 different  potential rentals some in the city and others north and west of town.  But he thought we would like this one in Brownsburg best. While in town, I followed up on a lead of a couple who had shown interest in All Souls.  I called David & Kelli to see if we could meet them for coffee after our searching on Saturday.  They agreed.  Not knowing where in Indy they lived I inquired of their location:  Brownsburg!   It turns out they are half a mile form our rental!  We had a great meeting and new neighbors before we hit the road!  This was one more confirming event in our stepping out on this new mission.

This next month, I will be finishing up my work in Flint.  We are living in a basement apartment of some friends of ours who are providing it at no charge (grace moment again!).  My main job is to be fully engaged in the fund raising process for the Domestic Mission start up of All Souls and the Indy Anglican Network.    I hope to talk with several of you personally over then next few weeks.   We hope to make a quick trip down to Indy to off load the truck the first or second week of August.   Then my last Sunday will be August 14th at New Wine.  We will take a quick trip to Ohio to catch up with family and my 40th high school reunion and then arrive in Indy on Monday August 22.

Keep us in pray as we are praying for many of you.

Dave+ & Deb Kulchar
Anglican Missionary to Indianapolis

Favor And Blessing

The past few weeks have been marked by favor and blessing.   We are beginning to see some of the first pledges of support from people in Michigan come in for the start up work in Indy.  I am slowly contacting churches and organization in our Diocese and beyond who may help us plant All Souls and develop other relationship-based ministry in the Indy area.  We have begun to contact people one on one asking them to come along side us on by a monthly pledge or a one time gift to reach our funding goal of $80,000 for the first two years.

We "closed" on the house without a glitch on Friday June 17th.  We now are renting for 30 days as we pack and clean with and will load the truck on July 16th.  Pray for dry weather that day as I have several college guys and one of my sons help me pack up a tractor trailer which will be hauled and stored in Indy till we are ready to have it delivered to our new rental house (which is yet to be determined).  The sale could not have gone smoother, even to the degree that our agent noted "it does not usually go any better than this."

Last weekend we had we our moving sale.  We sold many household items and some furniture as we try to lighten the load for Indy.  More importantly we had a chance to share with many people of our work and our move to Indiana. I love talking about the Lord and His goodness and favor.   For example several weeks ago, Deb and I were on a walk only days after we sold the house and came across 75 once-used moving boxes broken down and stacked by the road waiting for the trash men the next morning.  We got the van and snatched them up and could almost hear the Lord say " I sold the house in three days and now I have your boxes ready!"


We will be "homeless" for a little over a month in July and August, but again some friends who have been part of one of our prayer groups but attend a larger church on Sundays have offered us there basement apartment free of charge for a month.  Deb will finish her work and once out of the house my full-time work will be in seeking funding for our new venture.

Pray for ongoing favor in this time of sharing the vision of planting Anglican Church on the northwest side of Indy, but my hope in helping in some way all the Anglican efforts in the area move forward and work together.   We dream of establishing disciple- making communities that have a passion for serving the needs of our communities, engage the spiritual and real needs of our neighbors while worshiping our God and Savior in Word and Sacrament.

Our last Sunday with New Wine Anglican is August 14th.  We will hit the ground running in Indy August 22.

June Indy Project Update

Deb & I just returned from a weekend in Indy.  First we attended a nice gathering for local Indy Anglican Clergy hosted by Joe and Mickie Murphy at the home in Carmel.  Great food, some home brewed beer (called “First of Many”), and good conversation.   Our only lament was that there was not nearly enough time to speak with everyone.   It is our hope that this is the first of many gatherings for fellowship, prayer and encouragement as we all work together and individually in helping the Kingdom grow in the lives of people that the Lord places on our path.  I hope to call and talk with several of you who I did not have time to talk with and share about the ways the Lord is confirming our call to serve in Indy.  

Then Sunday we worshiped with the folks at Indy Vineyard 9:30am service as Pastor Randy preached, the worship team lead in sweet songs of praise and even shared in a simple communion moment.  Randy is starting a “One Another” sermon series called “Allelone” (Greek for One Another).    His is challenging his congregation to go to a deeper level of relational intimacy within the church and to the world.    A good word for all the church and for those who need each other in the establishment of Anglican fellowships throughout Indy.    After the worship and preaching, a woman from the prayer team approach me and ask how she could pray.  A little bold but very sweet.  Had several conversations with folks from church after the service and then we headed back to Whitestown and the Durrell farm for a gathering of All Souls souls and other interested parties. 

A group of 9 of us gathered as Todd and I shared our sense of God’s call to form a Indy Anglican Network and help move All Souls church plant to the next stage of its growth.   That is to move it from a house church to a group of missional communities who gather around the table to worship, share,  learn and serve.  After sharing we broke bread (and enjoyed homemade soup) under the Chestnut Tree out back and heard some good stories of faith and life.  Several folks who were invited could not make this gathering, but we hope to return soon for a similar events so we can invite others to partner with us in this pioneering work.   

Deb and I “close” on the sale of our Flint house Friday June 17th, but do not have to be moved out till July 17th.  Our plan is to load up a truck and ship it to Indy where it will be kept until we know where we will rent in the Indy area beginning in September.  In the mean time we will live with friends as Deb wraps up her job and I finish my work with New Wine Mission, while continuing to seek people who might be lead to help us fund the first two years of start up in Indy.  

If all goes forward and the funds are raised we hope to start full-time work in Indy September 1st.    We will keep you posted on our progress.  Let me know if you or your church would like to support us through a one time gift or a regular contribution these first two years.  If you would like me to come and share with your church or fellowship about this work please call and I would love to come and them to support this church planting effort and others in the future.  

Serving a powerful and gracious Lord,

Dave+ and Deb Kulchar

We Need Your Support

Indy Anglican Network Appeal

“The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”  Matthew 9:37

Dave and Deb Kulchar are sensing God’s call to pull up our roots of 22 years in Flint, Michigan and help the pioneering work of growing disciple-making churches in Indianapolis and the surrounding area.  They favor a relational “Word and Sacrament” approach to ministry, and serve under the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes as a missionary priest couple.  

Dave brings nearly 35 years of ministry experience as a youth minister, parish priest, church planter, coach and consultant  to this ministry.  Deb brings many years of administrative experience in the churches they served, musical talents, and a strong supportive role while Dave served in full-time ministry.    

Exciting things are happening in Indianapolis.  There are several small Anglican congregations in the surrounding area already doing good work, a few new Anglican fellowships just getting started and the potential for more to be planted in Indianapolis and the surrounding region.  Their bishop and other leaders see this area as a region where faithful Bible-centered, Spirit empowered and sacramentally rooted communities can be planted and ought to grow and flourish.  

To join the team of other faithful ministers in this area, they are proposing the establishment of a full-time Network Leader/Church Planter position.  This position will help support the existing works by coaching, offering encouragement and establishing an active and functional leadership network.  This role would include providing pastoral support to area clergy in partnership with the Bishop in times of personal and family crisis and provide someone who is thinking and acting strategically to establish new work in the area.  

Often good coaches are good because they are practicing the work while they coach.  To that end, the Kulchars intend to join the people of All Souls Anglican Mission in Whitestown and help them grow their small house church into a thriving multiplying Anglican church ministry.  Using a  home group discipleship and leader mentoring model, members will minister to each other and impact the communities where they gather.   Our goal is to grow multiple groups which gather on Sundays around the Table of the Lord for teaching, worship, sharing and ministry.  

To enable the Kulchars to serve in this pioneering mission,  we (All Souls and the Kulchars) together need to raise $80,000 annually for the first two years.  The Lord has already provided us with a foundational pledge amount of $25,000.  We would like to ask you or your church or institution to become partners with us to help launch this work.  Please pray about this and please consider making a one time gift, or a monthly pledge to support this pioneering ministry for a 2 year startup period beginning July 2016.  It is our prayer that by the summer of 2018 the ministry will have grown through both conversion and new member growth so that this ministry will be fully self-supporting.

For those who contribute to this work, we pledge to keep you informed and up to date with how the Lord is using your charitable gift to help us advance the work with All Souls and the Indy Anglican Network.  We will be sending out regular progress reports via email, Facebook, and a Blog post which will include occasional video updates. For churches and other groups,  Dave would be eager to visit as needed to share about the impact of your support of new church    development in hopes of fostering a vision for supporting new work planting even after this Indy Project is self-supporting.  Each January, we will provide annual records of contribution to each donor for tax purposes.   

Tax Deductible Contributions can be sent via check and made out to:  All Souls Anglican

mailing address:    6702 E 535 S, Whitestown, IN 46075

Online Giving via Paypal:     http://www.indyanglican.net/giving.html

With your first contribution please send us an email address and phone number where we can reach you and where contribution records can be sent online or via regular mail.  

If you are feeling led to partner with us with a regular pledge please inform us of your intentions by sending us an email, text or by phone.  (810) 964-0432 or dkulchar1@sbcglobal.net 

Rev Dave+ Kulchar Spiritual Bio

Deb and I are feeling that the Lord is opening up the door to serve as the Anglican church planter with All Souls Anglican and serve the wider fellowship as network facilitator as the Spirit grows many new and existing ministries in middle Indiana and the Indy area.  To help people learn a little about who we are I have recorded the following introduction video link.  (Click on this link)

Meet Rev. Dave+ Kulchar

If we are to come and serve we need to raise funds and pledges to meet our support and expense for the first 2 years at $80,000 a year.  So we are now working in a fundraising phase of the project.  This means we are working with All Souls Anglican Church starting the process of gathering and meeting with people who might like to be part of growing this new work.  Our goal is to reach new people with the love of Christ though a Word & Sacrament focused ministry.  If you would like to support this work for this start up period of 1 to 3 years or if you would like to be part of this exciting new effort as a Launch Team member, then  contact Todd & Elise Durell or Dave & Deb Kulchar (810) 964-0432.

Week #17 - Phase 2

Week #17 - Phase 2

Last week Deb and I returned from a trip to the New Wineskins 2016 Missionary Conference.  This triennial event is designed to encourage and promote world missions and featured mostly Anglican Mission agencies.  I am in the process of joining a Mission Society called NAMS which stands for “New Anglican Mission Society”.   It is an order of  Church Planters, both here and abroad, that have committed themselves to planting disciple-making multiplying churches.  

Jon Shuler, the “Servant General” of the NAMS, he is like the abbot who has been recruiting, training and coaching church planters for many years.  In 1994 he founded NAMS and launched it as a ministry to help plant new churches in North America.  NAMS was publicly introduced to the church at the first Wineskins Conference that year. Jon then helped me in 2005 as a coach when I first started New Wine in Flint after I attended one of his NAMS bootcamps for church planters.  I sat under his counsel and leadership for 2 years until we formed a new AMIA network in the upper Midwest.  In recent years NAMS has taken on a global vision and formed an order or society of church planters much like the societies of Franciscans in the Roman tradition or Society of St Luke, a healing ministry order, in the Anglican church.  I am feeling very drawn to become a “Companion” in this order.   This would be an intentional and public commitment  to spend the remainder of my ministry years supporting, mentoring and praying for those who are starting new works throughout the Anglican Church and specifically in the ACNA.   I see it as very appropriate that I might enter this second order fellowship at a time where the Lord seems to be opening the door for Deb and I to embark on one more church planting effort.  

On the return trip from New Wineskins we spent several days in Indianapolis continuing to help All Souls Anglican Fellowship develop a plan to call a church planter on the northwestern side of Indy, as well as help build a network of like-minded Anglicans who can develop Word & Sacrament congregations around Indiana’s largest city.   

We now are entering Phase 2 of the project, the fund raising phase. If enough pledged funds can be raised for a 2 to 3 year start up phase, Deb and I can see ourselves serving in this new position.   My years of ministry in the Anglican Communion as a lay youth pastor and ordained clergy has prepared me for this Network/Church planter role we envision in our vision document published earlier in the Blog.  With this experience and because of my passion for small group ministry and leadership development  I feel well prepared to help create and grow a Cell-Celebration  or Relationship based missional community on the Northwest side of town.

We have set a fund raising goal of $80,000 annually for the first 2 years of start up.  The initial core group from ALL Soul’s will pledge the foundation funding.  We will then be inviting several people who have expressed interest in supporting the development of a new work to one of several vision casting dinner meetings asking them to commit to this new Church start up enterprise.  We hope to hold these meetings in May and early June.  We are compiling this list at this time and invite all to recommend contacts who might join us.  Next we will explore funding through a wider ring of support within the region and diocese of the Great Lakes.  For example, just last week I heard of a special grant program from one of our churches in Lexington, KY that Indy Network would be eligible for in January of 2017.  

Sensing that the Lord wants Deb and I to be ready to move when the time comes, we are putting our home of 11 years up for sale this week.  We are asking that it sells for a fair price and at the right time.  

Please remember us in prayer and if you want to know more about this project please call (810) 964-0432.  

IAN Vision Document

INDY ANGLICAN  NETWORK (IAN)

 

IAN Defined:  A community of Jesus Followers who strive to care for people and change their surrounding neighborhoods and communities for good.

IAN Vision:  To build a supportive network of Missionary churches and fellowships bound by ancient Christian practices based on Anglican tradition and structures in Indianapolis and surrounding communities.

What we are not:

             Not a program focused ministry     Not simply a worshiping community

Not facility based ministries            Not pastor or personality focused ministries

What we want to be:  

Indy Anglican Network will purpose to be diverse.  

1)  Ethnically because we are increasingly a global village.  Our generation expects to see racial and ethnic diversity in every aspect of life and especially the church.  Note that the Anglican communion is mostly African and Asian and we hope to learn and gain from this diversity and express it in our life of faith.

2)  Generationally because we need the wisdom and experience of the aged, the energy and resources of the family aged demographic, the vitality and dreams of the youth, and and the joy and wonder of the children.   We purpose to live and minister inter-generationally.  

3)  Economically because Jesus is not a minder of person or means.  Our goal is to challenge all to give time, treasure and talents for the work of Gospel.  

 4)  Stylistically drawing the best of music, arts, contemporary and traditional.  Striving to encourage every member involvement and contributing to worship, fellowship, service and mission.  

5) Governmentally because we are in a season when the Anglican World is in a state of flux.  Currently there is a minimum of 4 Anglican ministries or affiliations under separate episcopal oversight.  The hope of IAN is that a spirit of cooperation and practical unity will emerge through a common effort to reach the Indianapolis area  with the power of the Gospel.

Basic unity of fellowship will be neighborhood house churches.  Each missionary community will plan its life around Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Ministry and Mission.  Each house church’s primary mission field is the neighborhood where they are centered  (i.e. Whitestown,  Rocky Ripple, Speedway, Clermont, etc).  Each House church will be formed around a rule of life and a basic 2 to 3 year life cycle.  Each fellowship is to be lay lead with multiplication and community engagement its goal.  

This Network of missional communities will share training and development, and share staff from time to time.  Each church unit may gathered around separate clergy or lay catechist.  They may even be under separate ecclesiological authority and may embrace different modes of funding but will purpose to work together as a team. This Network of house churches will purpose to gather together on a regular basis (perhaps monthly) for worship around the Lord’s table, share testimony and encouragement, while clergy & lay leaders preach or teach. Clergy will gather regularly for coaching, accountability and development.  The clergy will strive to minister as a team rather than completely separate church planters.    This Network is meant to be a church planting community, not a series of competing church start ups. 

Though liturgical style and practices in each congregation may be different, the Network is committed to being under episcopal oversight, use Anglican ordinals and building our life around the church year and observances.  Our desire is to be more outward focused than inward.  The Network goal is to challenge our community adherents to a lifestyle of evangelism and service so that others might come to faith in Christ or be blessed by our good works.  Our goal is that they too may enter a life of discipleship built around the church year and regular participation in the sacraments.  To accomplish this we will develop community appropriate training and a web of mentoring relationships which are designed to raise up the next generation of Kingdom building leaders.  

The Network’s primary goal is developing active and multiplying house church ministries throughout the metro Indy area.  One can envision that within the Network of house churches, several could organize around an independent Anglican Church that may one day have a central facility. but this is not the primary focus.  The goal is to develop healthy, growing communities that can support the work of each cell group and minister into the community and individual’s lives, and support staff or missioners who are sacramentalists, teachers and whose focus is to raise up more leadership for our growing parishes.

What makes the IAN different than other church planting work in the area?

Anglican Distinctives Mission Distinctives

Eucharistic Center Home based

Calendar Sensitive Service Focused

Episcopal Structure Intentional Leadership Development

Prayerbook guided Ministry Intensive

Historically Orthodox (Creedal)

Indy Anglican Network Participants:   Anglican communities that want to focus on a missionary emphasis of church building.  Founding missionary works (could be):   

 1)  All Souls (ADGL)  2)  Ascension (ACON)  3)_________ 4)________   

To establish the Indy Anglican Network it seems needful that we call a person who could help facilitate and coordinate mutual ministry and support of this initiative, beyond just gathering existing mission workers.  The part-time facilitator role could be coupled with the establishment of at least one or more new house church ministries.  Below is a proposed job description:

All Soul’s Missioner & Indy Network Facilitator (Job Description)

We are looking for an Anglican Priest or Lay Catechist with the following skills:

A leader whose personal faith is demonstrated in their personal devotion, growth, and discipline and an expectation of God the Holy Spirit working in power both in their life and those they lead, expressed in an Anglican model of worship and discipleship.  

A teacher who can preach the gospel and lead people to faith.  Instruct in the basic teaching of the faith and life of the church.  Mentor and raise up other leaders who can lead small groups, gather new believers and lead house churches in ministry. 

A developer who can establish new and creative means of engaging the preChristian world primarily around relationship based efforts and the creative arts or acts of service and helps.  

A networking person who can pull different ministries around a common vision of missional communities and encourage their sharing, supporting and blessing each other in their work.  

A worship leader who can gather people for sacramental ministry around the table and other sacramental moments (weddings, funerals, baptism, etc.) that sync with other Anglican communities for the good of the common life of God’s people.

Time Line 2016

March -  Vision Development

April  -   Core Team  Formation -  Fund Development

May -  Search Team Establishment   (Part-Time or Full-Time Position Determined)

July -  Interview/ Calling

Sept -  Missioner Start and IAN Kick-Off

Important Terminology Note:   There is currently an existing organizational designation  called the SOUTHERN INDIANA NETWORK of the ADGL   (ADGL  is Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes under ACNA or Anglican Church of North America).  The IAN is distinct from this diocesan designation  and not intended to replace it.

Indy Anglican Network is an initiative of All Souls, a fellowship of ADGL.  The Southern Indiana Network’s  appointed Leader is Rev. PT Morgan by Bishop Roger Ames, soon to be under Bishop-elect Ron Jackson, and consists of the following missions or parishes:

All Souls Anglican Mission -  Whitestown

St Anne’s Anglican Church - Anderson

St. George’s Anglican Church - Muncie 

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church - Nashville 

St. Patrick’s Anglican Church - Noblesville

All the above works would be invited to participate in IAN, but distance and mission focus may result in only tacit support.  Implicit in mission-focused ministry is the tendency to dream and work toward creating further IAN type church planting coalitions throughout the region.  This is accomplished by supporting others through prayer, mutual training and sharing. Then when possible sending people and resources forth to see this happen in new locations. 

NAMS  (New Anglican Mission Society) -  There is a possibility of looking to NAMS as a coaching and support group for some or all of the church-planting clergy and/or catechist of IAN.  This Anglican mission society has a proven record putting forth and supporting successful church planting missionaries over seas as well as domestically.   Rev. Jon Shuler  NAMS leader and coach.   http://www.namsnetwork.com/our-mission.html

Week #13 - Vision Development

After 3 visits and numerous emails and conversations there seems to be an emerging picture of the scope and vision for a church planter/network facilitator to help coordinate Anglican ministries in the Indianapolis area.  

Since the last blog report, Bishop-elect Ron Jackson and I have discussed the ministries I have learned about. From “The Table” led by Deacons Ben & Matt from FSO,  to “Church of the Ascension” under Fr. Tim, the arrival of Fr. Joe from Pittsburgh, and existing works of All Souls, St. Annes' and St Pat’s from the Diocese of the Great Lakes. There is even a special relationship between All Souls and Pastor Randy Gooder of the Indy Vineyard that shows great promise of mutual ministry and support (i.e. All Souls folks helped with the Vineyard Ash Wednesday gathering in February).  Ron and I agree that this is a special time of stirring by the Spirit in the Indy area.  Ron, though very busy until his consecration in late April, hopes to make a visit to the Indy area a top priority as he begins his ministry as Bishop of ADGL.  I hope to join him and introduce him to many of those in ministry in the area.   We even discussed the possibility of trying to generate special funds for start up work of which IAN ministries may benefit down the road.  

After this conversation a working document entitled "Indy Anglican Network" was developed and circulated.  In summary it acknowledges the need for a Network Coordinator who could help foster mutual ministry of those ministering in an Anglican way in the Indy area.  This includes the intentional development of relationships among Anglican ministers, as well as facilitating and coordinating common ministry of the whole group or individual ministries.  There is also a need at All Souls, Whitestown to have a church planter in place to further develop an Anglican missional community on the northwest side of town. Between these two tasks there is more than enough work to create a full-time position.  

Demographically the city continues to grow and expand.  And though traditional church involvement is in decline, a church that is relationally focused and mission-minded which mobilizes people to serve the community and world which introduces people to Christ and helps them grow intentionally in their faith has appeal.  A new ministry rooted in tradition and the sacraments, open to the ministry of the Spirit and contemporary expressions of music and the arts will have a unique place in the church community and one that is not fully being filled.   The goal would be to create a faith community which would foster a broad diversity expressed ethnically, generationally, economically, and stylistically.  Though there are already other healthy disciple making communities in Indy,  the Anglican distinctive of being Eucharistic Centered, Calendar Sensitive, Prayerbook Guided, Episcopally Governed and Historically Creedal or Orthodox is not well represented. 

The chief obstacle for starting this position is funding.  In the next few weeks we will begin to share the vision of this work with others.  The burden of this will fall on the core group at All Souls.  Deb and I open to being called to this position.  We acknowledge however it may take someone who can serve bi-vocationally or part-time to fill this leadership role in its early phase.  Meanwhile, we are exploring the possibility of  needing to augment the funding of this position in order to meet our financial needs in the initial 2 or 3 year start up period if called.

At the end of February I reconnected with Rev. Jon Shuler of the New Anglican Missionary Society (NAMS).  NAMS has been in existence for over 20 years.  It is committed to raising up church planting leaders.  Jon was my coach when we started New Wine in Flint, MI back in 2005 and a formative leader in AMIA.  Under his teaching and coaching many church planters have been trained, sent forth and coached.  Currently NAMS has church planting members of the Society starting new Anglican churches around the world, as well as in North America.    Jon and I are currently exploring the possibility of my being a NAMS missionary.   Next month I will attend the New Wineskins Missionary Conference in Asheville, NC April 7-10 to meet with Jon. 

On our way back we will stop in Indy to further connect with many of you and share the vision of the IAN with others who might join in launching All Souls into this next phase of development and support the formation of an Indy network.    If Deb and I cannot come to fulfill this position due to funding limitations or a closed door in the discernment process, I am still committed to helping see this position filled by fall of this year.  

Feel free to call or write if you want to know more or have questions about the Indy Anglican Network Project as we try to further the Lord’s work in the Indy area.  

Week #6 Indy Project Update

The Survey Phase

Time is really flying in this new year.  I ended January with a trip down to Indy.  The purpose of this survey trip was to get a good feel for what is going on in the area concerning things Anglican.  Though there are still things to learn, the time was helpful and it is clear something is happening that is bigger than any one ministry or fellowship.  It feels like things are not just growing, but about to burst forth.  

The first stop on Sunday, January 31 was at “The Table Fellowship”.   This newly forming missionary community has been meeting since the fall on Sunday nights in Fisher.  Ben Sterke and Matt Tebbe’s families are the root of this group.  Over 20 adults and kids break bread (pizza this time & some Chinese) for a pot luck meal.  After the meal a simple evening prayer time was enjoyed as everyone circled up in the living room.  A time of thanksgiving, then 2 people shared significant life moments to build community in place of regular Bible sharing this week.   This home based fellowship has much energy and transparency, and a vision to create community around Word, Sacrament and Mission.  

After some informal conversation and an attempt to offer words of encouragement to Matt and Ben, who are pursuing Anglican orders through Bishop Todd Hunter, I departed to the Durell farm where we spent the evening catching up.   Matt and Ben are doing great work and I expect this work to flourish in the not so distant future.

The next morning I was off to 3 significant meetings.  My first was with Pastor Randy Gooder of the Indy Vineyard who is contemplating “duel citizenship” in the vineyard and the ADGL.   He senses being called to one day serving in both communities in various capacities.  We spoke of developing more intentional  relationships between Anglican clergy and missioners in the area and what that might look like.  Randy brings much to the table  as an experienced pastor and mentor,  and has a big heart for discipling believers in ancient-future models of piety, worship and service.  

Next, Fr. Tim Felch and I met for lunch as he shared of being an early Anglican arrival to the Indy area several years ago when Bishop Amos, a Nigerian serving predominately African Anglicans in the USA, was the closest Anglican connection for him to start a new work in the area.  The cultural realities have been rich but also challenging.   The African model is significantly patriarchal in its  understanding of the church.  I certainly felt our conversational was very educational and I hope encouraging for my dear brother, who like most bi-vocational missioners, is finding the work draining.  I hope to visit his congregation soon.  

After lunch with Tim I drove around the Indiana-Purdue campus downtown and found myself taking a walk in Holliday Park along the White River on an unseasonably pleasant afternoon.  I ended up in Carmel having coffee with Fr. Joe Murphy.  We shared “war stories” of our exit out of TEC,  but found even richer conversation around marriage and family and what the church brings to the table in the culturally shifting times.  Joe and his wife are just settling into their new home, and had visited the All Soul’s fellowship the previous week.   Joe is still discerning his role if any with the Anglican movement in our area, but its hard to think that there is not some unique part he is to play as he is canonically received into the ADGL from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburg.

Monday night I had dinner and celebrated communion with All Soul’s Fellowship.  We laughed, prayed and broke bread.  A highlight for me was seeing the children, Roma and Anna, join in our service at several points.  We also prayed over a Farsi Bible Todd had gotten to give to a friend.  Afterwards we dreamed together of what All Soul’s might look like as a network of missionary communities or house churches meeting around Indy.   We were excited to think of these groups gathering at central locations from time to time (monthly?) to share the sacraments and share our stories of God working in us and through us.  

After a late night of conversation, I left the Durell Farm and headed home Tuesday morning stopping in Anderson for coffee with Fr. PT Morgan.   What a wonderful few hours together hearing the history of the church’s formation and multiplication beginning just a few years ago.   St. Anne’s is high church in style and has birthed several smaller chapels in the area.  I was sad to hear of recent leadership challenges that have left unexpectedly much of the leadership burden on PT’s shoulders.  Yet I heard PT expressing his and other’s determination to press on.   Though I wish more coordinated and real help could have come from our new diocese, our observation is that we live on a ship that is still learning to sail and that we can do better in the future.   I hope my time with PT will serve as steps towards building deeper ties of affection.  Networks do not just happen and require intentional care to see that they function and thrive for the good of the mission.  Work needs done but I would say the future is bright!

I arrived home in Michigan with great excitement about the people I met and the workers God is putting in place.  I believe there are still others not identified yet, who feel called to build the church and do mission in Anglican style around the Word and Sacrament.  For example I had a great phone conversation with Fr. Jon Back since my return and look forward to spending time face to face next time I am down.  But Anglicans do not want to be “lone rangers” or “congregationalists”.   Our hope is that whatever is the next step for “All Soul’s” and the ADGL in the Indy area it is that it will further the work of mutual support and affection among all folks “Anglican”.  

The next step for this Project is to describe and dream about how this Network can become much more a reality.  What will the relationships look like and how will this add to and support work already begun?  My hope is that Bishop-Elect Jackson might come to the Indy area soon to meet many of you, meet Bishop Amos, and join in the discussion about the future of the Anglican community and Kingdom work in Indy and surrounding communities.  

Week #3 Update

The first step in the project of discernment and development is to try to develop a clear picture of what the Lord is doing in the way of Anglican ministry in the Indianapolis area and surrounding regions.  I was hoping to start the contact work last week, but some unforeseen family matters took me out of state and prevented me from getting a start on this work.

So far this week I have talked with Rev. Ron Jackson - Canon for Leadership and Development and Bishop-Elect to share with him about our Indy Network Project Goals.  He is enthused and willing to be consulted as the work continues.  We both expressed a desire to make sure we are connecting with all critical parties.

I'm hoping to connect soon with Rev. PT Morgan,  Southern Indiana Network leader for the ADGL who we hope will help us discover more of the many "Anglican players" in Indy and surrounding communities.   Being an outsider looking in on the ministry,  even at this early stage, I see there are many things beginning or coming together that makes one think this is more than mere coincidence.  One example is the new arrival to Indy of the Rev. Joe Murphy from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh.  He and his wife have recently moved to Carmel.  He is a "Virtual" Professor serving Northern IL University and is able to work remotely.  He brings much experience and insight to the table.  Fr. Joe and I began a conversation but were waylaid.  We hope to do some face to face time on my next visit to Indy.

I had my first survey interview with Fr. Tim Felch,  missionary Priest of the Anglican Church of the Ascension, which meets now on Sundays at 4:30pm.  They gather in the BSA Center near Lawrence on the near east side of the city.  Around a dozen members in attendance and are under Bishop Amos oversight.  Tim and I will meet for coffee, and he's excited about a vision of creating an inter Judicator network of Anglicans in the area who can support and work together when possible.   Currently Tim is bi-vocational, working with a software company downtown.

Tim hopes to introduced me to Bishop Amos whose home church, The Anglican Cathedral Church of the Resurrection,  is on the near north side.  It appears they have have 150-200 in attendance on a Sunday and maintain a very beautiful facility on Ditch Road.  Tim will introduce me to Bishop Amos at one of my visits to the area.  This primarily African Anglican congregation should certainly shape the face of Anglicanism in Indy and, I would hope, add rich diversity to the church if we work at it in these early years of development.   Bishop-Elect Ron said he would love to counsel together with Bishop Amos when the time is right.

Tim also mentioned several "continuing churches" that exist in Indy.  If anyone has knowledge or relationship with the rectors or leaders of any of these churches please contact me.  I would love to hear about the work and learn from their experience of ministry in Indy over the years.  Also if there is any orthodox leaning Episcopal clergy or lay leaders in the area,  I would like to reach out to them as well.

Dr. Todd Durvel of All Souls Anglican Mission is back from a holiday trip to Italy, but will soon be heading out again on business overseas.  All Souls Anglican Mission is a house church that meets in his home and is in the midst of a transition as Fr. Aaron Harrison moves to Chicago.  They are thankful for Aaron's work with them.  They hope that this project will result in some new clergy support either part-time or full-time for their work on the North East corner of the city.

Project Purpose

INDY ANGLICAN NETWORK Project 2016

My name is Dave+ Kulchar, Anglican Priest and church consultant.

As of January 1, 2016 I have been asked to help move the formation of the Indy Anglican Network one more step forward towards a more formal and active ministry.  The IANetwork is a group in formation  of like-minded Christians who want to partner together to help each other live out their faith and mission in the Indianapolis Area and surrounding region.  The goal is to become faithful and effective followers of Christ in this broken world and to bring others into the community of faith.

The scope of this particular project is to first recognize and acknowledge what the Lord is already doing in bringing Christians who are drawn to a Word and Sacrament style of discipleship to the Indianapolis area.  The overall goal is to produce a documented case for the establishment of an Indy Network Missioner,  define the need and responsibilities around Network objectives and develop a support base for a part-time or full-time Missioner who will help coordinate existing work and develop new congregations in the area.

Here are the 5 short term  goals of this project to be completed by April 2016

1)  Survey & Connect with Existing Anglican Churches, Leaders and Home Groups

2)  Conduct a Statistical and Demographic Analysis of Indy and other potential areas for Evangelical Sacramental work using existing data

3)  Identify and Invite Core participants (both lay and clergy) to formalize an Indy Anglican Network.

4)  Develop an embryonic Vision Statement which would include specific yet open ended ways of establishing Anglican Faith Communities in the area.  But also articulate how these Anglican ministries might partner and work together in the work of evangelism, discipleship and service.

5)  Host 2-3 initial Vision Casting gatherings to begin to formalize a committed church planting network and raise pledges so the IANetwork could call a part-time or full-time Missioner/Network Facilitator by summer or fall of 2016.

If you would like to know more or help in this project contact Dave+:   (c) 810 964-0432 or dkulchar1@sbcglobal.net