2nd National Conference for Deacons, June, 1981

2^nd Annual Conference for Deacons

First publication: June, 1981

 

There are 700 vocational deacons in the Episcopal Church today, and the Second National Conference for Deacons, held May 21-23 at the center for Continuing Education at Notre Dame, Indiana, heard the rev. Dr. John. E. Booty challenge deacons to be, “true and lively catalysts of the universal servanthood of all Christians, both in their actions and their inner beings.” 

Dr. Booty,  professor of Church History at the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, pointed to the revival of the vocational diaconate and the mushrooming numbers of deacons in the church as offering and opportunity to personify, sacramentalize and enable the servant ministry to which all Christians are called to at Baptism.

Approximately 100 vocational deacons and friends of diaconal ministry from 39 states and two Canadian provinces attended the conference.  Twenty Five workshops sharing the diversity of ministry of deacons and and the issues of diaconal ministry were at the heart of the conference.  A previous conference in 1979 explored the theological undergirding of the Diaconate.  The conference was a cooperative part of a six year effort  called for by the 1979 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, directed at raising the consciousness of the church about the work and ministry of deacons, setting up pilot programs and evaluating the national effort.  The conference recommended that province-wide deacon gatherings be held in the spring of 1982, and that another national conference  be held in 1983. 

The worship of the conference incorporated the many ways the deacon serves liturgically and was arranged by  The Associated parishes, Alexandria VA., who co-sponsored the conference  with the National Association for The Diaconate, Boston, MA.

The National Center for The Diaconate, formerly known as the Central House for Deaconesses, is a 35 year old agency working to promote the distinctive, vocational diaconate, to educate the church and to support deacons and others in diaconal ministry.  The Center is located at 14 Beacon Street, Boston, MA., 02108.  The Rev. James L. Lowery, Jr. provides executive services to the Center and Gail D. Hinand is the Administrator.

 

ProJo series points to financial issues in Rhode Island's support for those with Mental Illness

Here is a link to a series in the Providence Journal.  Please tag and follow.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10152927858704341&id=684709340

What's New through Diaconal Ministry at Saint Augustine's Parish

The Deacons’ School: An Historic Account

The following comes from The Rev. Shirley Woods, who became the first Dean of the School for Deacons, Diocese of California in 1979.  She, with the help of Fr. Richard Fabian, writes about deacons:

DEACON: Enabler, Facilitator

--Enabler: One who provides opportunities and makes possible the work of others.

--Facilitator: One who paves the way, gives instruction and makes hard work easier.

The Great Enabler was Jesus.  When questioners came to Jesus with problems, He did not hand out answers from the Teacher’s Answer Book.  How many times did He preface His answer with, “What do you think of this case?” or, “Have you not read…?”  Jesus had the skill of stating the problem in new terms or in such a way that the answer became apparent to the listener, who could then reply and then act for himself.  The Christian experience is one of liberation; it does not demand the rote following of commands and fiats.

We often hear the plaintive question, “What can the deacon do that no one else can do?”  The answer is another question: “What is it that the deacon cannot do that others can do?”  The answer (to the latter question) is, “Precious little.”  The deacon is the palace official, member of the kitchen cabinet, the man behind the scenes, whose job it is to see that all runs smoothly.  It is true that upon occasion one might see a deacon all dressed up in a brocade dalmatic (most likely it is borrowed).  But usually the deacon is standing in the background, giving orders with a nod, a raise of the eyebrow, or a gesture, making sure that everyone else in the show does his part.  So also out in the world.  Our deacon friend may not be the keynote speaker at the meeting, but it is he who found the keynote speaker.  He also found the table, the lectern and the chairs.  (Let us hope that he found a group of young people to set up the chairs.)  Should the speaker be late, the deacon will get up and tell a few jokes or lead us in a song.  It is true that the deacon may occasionally end up giving the speech.  Just so, the deacon is often found on a mid-summer day when everyone else is off on vacation, presiding at a funeral.

I have heard deacon candidates in worrisome voices, trying to tot up their talents and abilities.  They make lists: (1) can visit convalescent homes; (2) can take old ladies to church; (3) can babysit young children.  When the list is finished, the candidate in frustration is ready to throw the whole idea out the window.  Deacons don’t really want to take old ladies to church and babysit young children.  The list should read, (1) Can bring together persons who would profit by visiting convalescent homes, and train them; (2) Can organize convalescents to visit each other; (3) can organize car pools; (4) can raise money to buy a church bus; (5) can organize a group of nursery school teachers.  In other words, “Can run things.”  Perhaps another word should be added: “Unobtrusively.”

Those first deacons in the Book of Acts were not asked to cook meals; they were asked to round up the food and distribute it.  I hear a lot of inquiry , “What is the difference between a deacon and a lay person?”  Or, more bluntly, “What can a deacon do that a lay person cannot do?”  The unimaginative answer is, “Read the Gospel.”  But everyone knows that almost anyone can read the Gospel, and the4 deacon feels he has been thrown a sop.  The deacon’s job is to organize the laity, to get them moving.  It has been noted that the laity often have other fish to fry; the deacon will find that he has to do the job himself if he doesn’t get his organization into gear.  One deacon cannot visit all the convalescent homes, but One Deacon has become a facilitator for helping others to visit.  One deacon is only a drop in the bucket so far as rehabilitating alcoholics goes, but One Deacon has a study to define the problem and to set up a center for dealing with the problem.  A deacon can offer sympathy to a parent with a mentally disadvantaged child, but One Deacon has set up classes for such children and has taught others  how to teach them. 

Jesus said, “The man who holds out to the end is the one who will see salvation.  This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a witness to all the nations.”

Via The Rev. John Edmunds,

who will become the first director

of the School for Deacons in Rhode island

Next time:  Learn more from our history, as we hear about The Rev. John Edmunds and his background and vision for the School for Deacons

Rhode Island Deacons Celebrate!

The community of RI Deacons and their families held a picnic on July 12th to celebrate the life and ministry of those who have faithfully served and retired as Deacons in the Diocese of RI.  The modern era of the diaconate in RI began with the first ordinations occurring on July 13, 1985.  A celebration of this essential ministry is being planned for the summer of 2015.

Deacon Mary Ann Mello Helps New Work Begin

Hello Everyone,

Deacon Mary Ann Mello has been helping to establish Church of the Advent, which will offer its services to those whose lives are affected by Autism. 

 

Rhythms of Grace at Advent is a new worship offering by the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.   It is a liturgical program developed by the Rev. Dr. Audrey Scanlan and Linda L. Snyder to serve the Autistic community and their families. An empty church and a diocesan desire to serve the under-served presented a great opportunity for the church to use its resources to reach out to the Autistic community and their families in our own diocese.  The program seeks to provide an alternative way to meet their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.  While the Autistic community is the focus, the liturgy is appropriate for all people who wish to experience another expression of how we can worship God and serve God’s people.

 Advent, Coventry (formerly St. Matthias) is centrally located in Rhode Island.  The property has been vacant and unused for several years. The church’s location, ample sanctuary space, and redesign potential made it an obvious place to begin this new offering!  Currently, the sanctuary is being reconfigured to host this unique and interactive worship experience.While much work is still required, a soft start is planned for June.

 

A number of families, professionals, and clergy will  work through  the  program  to ensure it has the correct balance to best serve those who God brings together to form  this new   community.  A large-scale opening service is planned for September.  If you are interested in volunteering for a work Saturday or have any questions, feel free to email the Rev. Dennis Bucco at father.dennis@hotmail.com or the Rev. Deacon Mary Ann Mello at deaconmaryannmello@verizon.net.

To find out more about the Liturgy “Rhythms of Grace” you can check out the website at http://www.rhythms-of-grace.org. We have been greatly inspired by the support and enthusiastic encouragement by so many people in the diocese that we are glad to be able to provide you with this update. Thank you for all you interest and prayers.

 

Maryann writes on their blog,

 

"We are putting down a floor in a church nursery and this is something I have never done before. I have also never helped to start a ministry before either. All new to me. Part of putting down a floor is making sure that the old flooring underneath is level and strong, so whatever type of floor you lay on top, lays flat but also has a balanced support system underneath.

I think that is what we are doing at Rhythms of Grace at Advent, laying a firm foundation and building a support system for this ministry before we open the doors. I am finding that it does take time and patience just like laying down the floor board by board but once it is finished it will be this sweeping space where anything can happen, anything can grow, anything can be.

For me, part of the foundation of this new ministry is listening to a community that is underserved and offering a place of freedom and comfort to be able get to know and hear God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a way that includes our own unique way of communicating, in our own language.  Happy Pentecost!

Peace,

Mary Ann"

 

You can follow their progress, and let anyone you know who may have need of their services by clicking here.

 

Barbara Mays-Stock: 20 years of Service as a Deacon

(Editor’s note:  Since I write the blog entries, I will write about myself in the first person in this edition.)

This March 20, I will celebrate my 20^th anniversary of ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons.  On April 19, I will also celebrate my 60^th birthday, so it seemed a perfect time to write a blog entry about my ministries in the Diocese of Rhode Island.

I was ordained on March 20, 1994.  As a committed lay person, and then as an ordained deacon, I had begun to do Chaplaincy for people whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS in the late 1980’s.  Our work centered in offering both spiritual and physical help to those afflicted by HIV.  During that time, my work included being a hospital chaplain, as well as working with the State Prison Chaplaincy Department and hospices throughout the state.  I worked with The RI State Council of Churches to establish the AIDS Task Force for the Council, providing monthly services throughout both Christian denominations and in the Jewish and Muslim communities in the state.  This continued to be the focus of my diaconal ministry for over 10 years.  After that, I began working with at-risk families through my work at Head Start, eventually becoming the head of the Statewide Fatherhood Initiative.  Our work brought together family centered non-profit agencies and state agencies that included departments of Education, Taxation, Job Training, and Human Services.  We worked to provide needed education to young fathers, so that they could begin to address their child support arrearages and get back into the lives of their children.  Spiritual components often included special services and safe haven for our patients or parents so that they could re-focus on developing positive relationships. 

As I learned skills in embroidery and sewing, I was able to learn to make fair linen and vestment embellishments, and have, from time to time, offered them in memoriam or as a special gift to parishes.  Also, I was honored to have been asked to make the wedding cake for our now retired bishop, Geralyn and her husband, Tom.

 


More recently, I have focused on gathering people with talents for sewing, knitting and crocheting, especially in parishes, who make infant hats, afghans, quilts, as well as sweaters, scarves and hats for adults in need and in the military.  We have also produced many Prayer Shawls.  I am now, in addition to my on-going fiber arts ministries, helping to develop technology opportunities for our deacons.  I started and run this blog, which provides us and the wider community information about members of our community.  In my time at the Cathedral, I oversaw the website, printed media and the Cathedral newsletter publications, as well as their Social media on the Net.  I am excited to continue to help bring the diocese into a new and helpful era of technology support for their various ministries.

I have served in a variety of parish settings, the most recent being as deacon at The Cathedral of Saint John, until it closed in April of 2012.  Having served at the Cathedral twice as deacon and earlier as a student, a large majority of my ministry occurred while on assignment there. 

One of the most exciting projects that I was able to engage the Cathedral parish in was the making of a story quilt, which, through knowing what the squares mean, helped bring escaped slaves to freedom prior to the Civil War.  This quilt was made and dedicated at The Cathedral, to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the legal end of allowing the importation of Africans to be sold as slaves in this country.  I truly miss my time and ministry there.

I am currently unassigned in a parish setting.  However, this does not mean that I am not functioning as a deacon in the world!  In addition to the electronic media work mentioned above, I am currently working on "The 60th Year Project," which is the making of 60 quilts for babies at risk, to celebrate my 60th year.  Who says deacons can't have fun with life?!

Ash Wednesday brings our Archdeacon out for Ashes To Go!

It was a cold and blustery day, but the Rhode Island Archdeacon, The Venerable Janice Grinnell was at the train station at 5:45 AM, along with Rev. David Dobbins, rector of Saint Augustine’s parish in North Kingston and Pastor Mary Hansen-Joyce.  They were there to distribute ashes for the many Rhode Islanders who commute each day, oftentimes leaving their homes as early as 5:00, to get to work in Boston.  There being no time for these Christians to get to church on Ash Wednesday morning or evening because of their commute, this opportunity is given each year for them to receive their Lenten ashes, as a reminder that they “are dust and to dust they shall return,” and to call them to enter into the season of Lent in a mindful and prayerful way.

 

Here are some pictures of them as they met commuters and then, later in the morning, met students on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.  “We were there from 9-11 and had 71 people receive ashes on campus,” Jan said. She and Rev. Dobbins also held Ash Wednesday service at St. Augustine’s at 7 PM, where the Archdeacon preached the message.

 

Deacon Joyce Thorne Strives to Help the Unemployed

While the Rev. Dcn. Joyce Thorne has been ordained since May 22, 2010, her outreach and ministry to those in need has covered several decades.  She has worked for Rhode Island Housing, where she helped people who were to become first-time home owners to attain their goal.  She has been a part of the congregation of The Cathedral of Saint John for most of her adult life, and was involved in outreach there. She helped with the Meal Site that was begun there by parishioners and Deacon Ida Johnson.  She also had a hand in the creation of a quilt to recognize the end of the importation of slavery in this country, along with parishioners and Rev. Dcn. Barbara Mays-Stock.  Joyce had an ongoing presence at the altar, serving in early years as part of the Altar Guild, and later as subdeacon and lay reader.

But it wasn’t until she attended the ordination of Deacon Ricky Brightman that she began to sense her call to the diaconate in a more direct way.  “I was sitting at the ordination, and at several places, I felt a presence, a hand on my shoulder, though I knew there was no one next to me.  I began to feel drawn to ask about the Diaconate.”

She had discussions with Deacon Ricky and eventually spoke to the Dean, Maria DeCarvahlo about the idea.  But it was when she spoke to Dean Harry Krauss that he told her to consider involving herself in the Discernment Program offered by the Diocese.  This program is set up to help people find where God is calling them to serve.

When Deacon Joyce began attending classes, she was one of two students going through the process, but in the end, she finished alone.  “That was hard,” said Joyce, “because there was no one to bounce ideas to, or to hear what they were thinking.  It was a little bit lonely. “

Joyce had two ideas for her ministry as she went through the process.  First, she thought of working at a nursing home, listening, helping, talking and being a presence.  When that choice was not accepted, she decided that her other option was to utilize the opportunity that she had to obtain regular information about job postings and make them available to parishioners, friends, and ultimately provide a Diocesan wide service of information and networking.   “In this declining economy, it seemed that I could offer this every day and help those who needed this information to find work,” she said.

Deacon Joyce brings her ministry into the church in specific ways.  First, she let all the priests of the Diocese know that this service was available and there are 10 or 12 priests who have asked that her daily emails be sent to their parishes for any who might need them.  Then, she began to receive emails from priests, asking to add some of their parishioners directly to her email service, which she has done.  She is still looking to do more with this and asks that if anyone would like to be added to her list, for them to contact her at lbmp1805@cox.net.  Deacon Joyce is currently assigned at Saint Luke’s Church in Pawtucket, and can be reached there as well.  In addition to her diaconal work, Joyce was elected to serve on the Commission on Finance at the most recent Diocesan Convention.

Deacon Joyce has also been working on the new database at the Diocesan House on a voluntary basis, and is helping Episcopal Charities to update all important data for their mailings.  She enjoys her time at the Diocese.  “I think it’s great to be there, because there is always so much going on.  I see new young people, meet new priests coming into the Diocese and I have learned that what is involved in running the diocese is remarkable.  It’s an eye-opening experience to see all the work that is done there to protect and serve all the parishes of the Diocese, and it is clear to me that they really do care,” she said.

Deacon Joyce’s journey into her life as a deacon had some twists and turns.  Her family did not always think that it was something that she could do, but came to support her in the end.  Two of her grandchildren died while she was in training to become a deacon.  “It was my faith in God that kept me going.  If I had not had that deep faith, I would have thought at that point that God had just given up on me.  I know that God has taken my right hand and walked with me throughout all of this, and that God would never leave me,” she said.

Deacon Joyce celebrated her 72^nd birthday in January, and since this is the mandatory age of retirement for deacons, she requested that the Bishop allow her to continue her work as a deacon.  National canon law allows the Bishop at his/her discretion to allow a deacon to serve going forward.  There is then a yearly meeting and review with the deacon going.  Joyce says, “I feel great, and don’t want to give it up because I feel that I can be of service.  I will continue to do this on a yearly basis until I can’t anymore, but until then, I hope to continue in my diaconal duties.”

A Program for Diaconal Formation

In Province One, a school has been developed in Massachusetts that has opened its doors to those who are called to be deacons throughout the Province.  Bishop Shaw has said that he wants to be open to helping others move along in the formation of their deacons.  At the present time, there are 12 students in process, seven from Massachusetts, two from New Hampshire and three of them are from the Diocese of Rhode Island.  Jim Kelleher, Grace Swinski and Ed Dean represent Rhode Island as students in this new collaborative effort.  They attend weekend classes once a month and engage in a community and prayer life that is designed to bring them all together for learning and spiritual development.

 

 The formation of deacons has taken on a variety of faces throughout its 30 years in the Diocese of Rhode Island.  Deacons have been ordained here under different schools of thought and practice.  Since its beginning, there have been three bishops involved in the process, and each has branded the diaconate in their own particular way.  And as the diaconate in Rhode Island has continued to grow and develop, such has also been the case throughout Province One (New England), and, in fact, for the national church as a whole.  We struggle with who a deacon is, why they are called into service and how to educate and equip them for their future role in the church and the world.

 

  Deacon students in the Massachusetts program, with Archdeacons Grinnell & Zifcak

 When asked, Bishop Nicholas Knisely had this to say about the new opportunity for our Rhode Island deacon students:

“As three dioceses in Province 1 are in the process are revitalizing their diaconal ministries, the Dioceses of New Hampshire and Rhode Island have been welcomed into the existing formation program of the Diocese of Mass. This is happening at the same time that a working group is being formed to find ways that all the Province 1 dioceses will find common ground regarding diaconal formation. 

There are a number of reasons that I'm excited about this. Chief among them is that it allows us to start immediately forming new deacon classes here in Rhode Island, and will soon bring new energy and ministry to the diocese as a whole. It also allows us to work with other dioceses in New England toward finding a common vision and understanding of what diaconate means in the 21st century. As this vision emerges, all the bishops are hoping that it will create a network of deacons that will naturally look for ways that we can all coordinate ministry across diocesan lines as appropriate. Third it brings us a great deal of resources for formation, both in terms of class work and community that we simply wouldn't be able to do by ourselves here in Rhode Island.

 

Stay tuned about all of this. I'm hoping that Rhode Island will again be in the forefront working on the creation of new shared materials for our Province, and God willing, for the wider Church.”

 

The Venerable Pat Zifcak is the archdeacon in Massachusetts who oversees deacons-in-formation, so she is entirely involved in this diocesan program.  The archdeacon says that the program started about 15 years ago, and that Bishop Shaw began his journey of development of this program by looking at the program that was in place in Rhode Island.  There were conversations with the Canon to the Ordinary, Julia Slayton, and soon a program for deacons was envisioned.

 

The program today is very similar, with minor changes, and it has continued to be very strong, according to the archdeacon, right up to the present.  There are currently about 37 deacons in Massachusetts, and all except those who came after ordination from other dioceses have been ordained after completing this program.

Archdeacon Pat

 

 

In Massachusetts, a period of discernment begins the process for those who feel called into the diaconate.  During that time, the aspirant meets with their congregation and clergy, and also engages in a program meant to clarify to what ministry (laity, priest or deacon) he/she is being called.  The second phase is to meet with the bishop, Standing Committee and Commission on Ministry (COM), to further discuss and clarify.  Also, there are conferences, followed by applications being sent in August each year.  By September, the subcommittee set by the COM makes their decisions, in November interviews are held and postulants are notified before Christmas about entering the program.  The Rhode Island applicants would, of course, go through this part of the program in-house in our Diocese.

Preparing for dinner and sharing conversation with the deacon students

The program is a three year cycle and entry points are in September each year.  The students and staff gather for their weekends at the convent of the Sisters of St. Anne in Arlington, where they are supported, encouraged (and fed!) by the sisters while they are there.

The Sisters of St. Anne made a wonderful dinner for us!

For more information on discerning a call to the diaconate, speak to your parish priest and ask how to proceed.  You may also call the Bishop’s office and ask for a brochure called, “Diocesan Program for Diaconal Formation.”  This brochure outlines in detail the structure of the program and gives good insight into the Massachusetts program. As always, deacons throughout our diocese are very happy to sit and answer questions if you are simply looking to inquire into what our deacons in Rhode Island are doing.  And of course, follow this blog to "meet" the deacon students and deacons in Rhode Island, see what they are doing and where they are located.

 

I would like to thank the Sisters of St. Anne and the staff and students who welcomed me, along with the Archdeacon from Rhode Island, The Venerable Janice Grinnell to their January weekend.  We enjoyed the opportunity to meet the postulants and their supportive staff.