An Interview with The Rt. Rev. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island

It has been a year since Rhode Island elected its current bishop, Nicholas Knisely.  In that time, he has spent much effort, working with the newly appointed Archdeacon, The Ven. Jan Grinnell, to evaluate the current status of and the future prospects for the Diaconate in Rhode Island.  We caught up with him recently, to ask him some questions regarding his thoughts on the diaconate.  His remarks are below.

 

BMS:  Bishop Knisely, can you tell me a little bit about your experience with the Diaconate in your years as a priest?

Bishop Knisely:  I've been particularly blessed to work with 6 extraordinary deacons during the

time I served as a parochial priest. In fact, every parish I served as the Rector eventually either had a deacon assigned, or lifted up someone to that ministry.  In every case, I valued the shared ministry we had. In Pittsburgh, the deacon I worked with helped with the pastoral care of the parish. In Bethlehem, the deacon ran our daily Soup Kitchen. In Phoenix, the deacons ranged from the Archdeacon, who was the administrator of our school for deacons and the diocesan liturgist, a deacon who ran a Community Health ministry, a deacon who was a fierce voice of social change and a deacon who focused on pastoral care and animal rights advocacy.

 

BMS:  What have you found most helpful and/ or meaningful about deacons in the Episcopal church?

Bishop Knisely:  I've said in other places that I believe the deacon's voice is the distilled prophetic voice of the church. I believe the deacon's ministry is lived out on the fringes of the church and the world and as such is a sign of what God expects of every Christian.

 

BMS:  What are your expectations of deacons in the Diocese of Rhode Island?

Bishop Knisely:  I hope that they will continue to live as a community along with their fellow ordained communities of presbyters and bishops, working to serve the Gospel here in the state. I hope that they will continue to listen and look for the working of the Holy Spirit in the world and be insistent in calling our attention to that action.

 

BMS:  What do you envision the Diaconate here in Rhode Island to look like in 10 years?

Bishop Knisely:  In ten years, I hope that most parishes that want to have a deacon serving as part of ordained leadership will have one. I hope that we will see the diaconate reenergized by new voices, young voices and people who are not at present a part of the Episcopal Church.