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.

 

Manual on "The Deacon in the Liturgy" published; April, 1981

Manual on “The Deacon in the Liturgy” Published

Original publication date of this article: April, 1981

 

“The Deacon in the Liturgy” by Deacon Ormand Plater has been published by the National Center for The Diaconate to clarify the Deacon’s role in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer’s restoration of diversity of ministries as a cardinal principle of worship.

In the book’s introduction,  Deacon Plater writes, “…although this booklet may appear to be a manual of ceremony for a limited audience, the Deacons of the Episcopal Church, its deeper purpose is to help deacons be what they ought to be in the liturgy, neither ostentatious nor sloppy, but serving with grace and manners, and to help bishops, priests and lay persons realize the value of deacons in  the life and worship of the church.  …The deacon’s role in the liturgy reveals the true nature of the deacon as proclaimer and evangelist, messenger and bearer of good news to the poor, as well as servant in the image of Christ.

For some 700 vocational (permanent) deacons in the Episcopal Church today, the book will serve as a manual and guide.  The deacon in the liturgy is presented in the total context of all of the church’s services and offices, and a congregation can make complete or partial use of the material.

Deacon Ormande Plater, Ph.D. serves as assistant at Saint Anna’s Church and as medical chaplain at Touro Infirmary Medical Center, both in New Orleans.  A native of New York City, Deacon Plater’s undergraduate work was done at Vanderbilt University.  He received a doctorate in English Languages and Literature from Tulane University.

The book is available from The National Center for the Diaconate, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, for $6.

 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULED

We also take note that the National Center for the Diaconate and Associated Parishes will jointly sponsor a conference titled, “The Deacon” May 21-23 at the University of Notre Dame.  Registration, due in writing on or before May 14…..For further information, contact either the Rev. James L. Lowery, Jr. or Ms. Gail D. Hinand, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108.

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

Deacon's History: Meet John Edmunds

In our continuing reprints, here is an article from March, 1982 issue of The RI Diocesan newspaper.

 

The new face you often see at Diocesan House, either punching away at a typewriter or bending in deep devotion before the copy machine, belongs to The Rev. John Edmunds, director of our just-launched Diaconate Studies Program.  His task at the moment is to pull together the curriculum, faculty and finances which, God willing, will place our diocese at the forefront of re-establishing the Deacon as a full and complete ordained minister of the church, with functions complementary to-- yet distinct from-- those of bishop and priest.  These are not deacons on the way to the priesthood, but (as in Apostolic times) people set apart by ordination to live and serve Christ and His Church in our Lord's example: "I am among you as One who Serveth."  In parishes, institutions and in the secular world, the ministry of this diocese will be thrillingly enlarged.  And John is the man who is charged with getting all of this going.
Born in Concord, New Hampshire, John grew up in Saint Paul's School, where his father was a master.  His interest in the priesthood began in Saint Paul's lovely Gothic chapel -- "Not the religion, but the aesthetics."  The beauty of the place, the stateliness of the liturgy, and mostly the excellence of the music (under Channing Lefebvre, former organist at St. John The Divine, New York City) all touched him deeply.  Intellectually, an assigned term paper on the Oxford Movement and the Catholic revival in Anglicanism drew him on.  Attending Carleton College in Northfield, MN., he was introduced to Kiierkegaard, and Fear and Trembling familiarized him with an even deeper appreciation of the Christian life.

By graduation time, he had decided to go on to seminary, but the bishop of Massachusetts wanted him to have a more diverse experience and sent him to work in the Youth Ministries Program of the Church of the Redeemer, Houston-- a once prosperous inner city parish which was in  transition.  "This was my gas station ministry," he says.  "To support myself I pumped gas.  The station was a gathering place for poor whites and Hispanics and Episcopalianism, with a pentecostal flavor appealed to the gangs who lived there."  The parish grew and John grew. 

He entered ETS (now EDS) in Cambridge in the fall of 1965, shortly after seminarian Jonathan Daniels was martyred in Mississippi-- a profound experience for the students and faculty there.  John Coburn,( now Bishop of Massachusetts ) was dean at ETS at the time and assigned John to the Mattapoisett General Hospital, a geriatric hospital just outside Boston and also worked on a text for the Diocesan Human Relations Committee while in seminary.

He was ordained a priest and served for several years as curate in South Weymouth.  Then followed 4 years as chaplain at the Pomfret School in Connecticut and an equal time doing Clinical Pastoral Training in the Washington area, first as Chaplain Intern  at the Medical College in Virginia, then as Chaplain of the Delaware Street Hospital and at the Bethany Medical Center.  These provided him with experience in the problems of minorities, criminals and adolescents.

In late 1978, he acquired a house in Barrington, RI, and a position in C.E.T.A. as a director of the East Providence Self Help Program.  When budgetary problems reduced this program , John was introduced to the waste removal problems in Barrington, and became one of the most highly educated  "Sanitation Engineers" ever to work in that community.  (Be it known that "sanitation engineers" go by much less exalted titles in less affluent areas!)  He availed himself of the parish consultants training offered by our Diocese.  Now in addition to his new responsibility, he is currently interim rector of St. George's, Central Falls.

"My vocation is the be a priest and an educator," says Fr. Edmunds, "and I am happy and content  in doing what I am doing right now."

We feel assured that his varied experience has prepared him well, and will watch with prayers and keen interest his leadership in the Deacon's Training Program.



Rev. Deacon Heddie Neale

With sadness, we mark the passing of The Rev. Heddie Neale into the next chapter of Life.

Dear brothers and sisters;

We've learned that the memorial service for Heddie Neale is to be held at 3 PM on Sunday Oct 19th at St. Luke's in East Greenwich. A reception will follow at the church and will offer us a time to support each other and Heddie's family.

Clergy who wish to, are invited to vest and process as part of the service. White stoles please.

+Nicholas

--


The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, DD, SOSc

Bishop
The Diocese of Rhode Island

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I find it difficult to write to you this afternoon.  I trust that all of you have heard the news by now, either through the Bishop’s email to the clergy, the newsletter from St. Luke’s or by other means that Heddie Neale died last evening.  Heddie went to be her Lord after a brief illness in the hospital.  I spoke with her daughter this morning, and she informed me that all of her children were able to gather around her.  She also mentioned that Heddie shared “I am ready to go home,” a final witness of the faith that she lived in all of her affairs.

The rain is coming down outside of my windows, and I am wondering if God isn’t shedding a few tears over the loss of one of His beloved deacons.  But I also know that He embraced her mightily as she entered into His eternal kingdom.

I first met Heddie through Cursillo back in the early 80’s, but was reintroduced to her at our School for Deacons when I enrolled.  We became friends quickly, and shared many wonderful memories during our formation process.  I was privileged to have her be one of my presenters at my ordination, and will hold that memory close to my heart.  She was an inspiration and an icon into the true meaning of the Diaconate.  She modeled dedication and commitment to the process as well as the vocation.  I am grateful for all that she did for me, and all that she did for this Diocese and those she served through her ministry.

I have not heard of the funeral arrangements as of this writing, but hope to know soon so we can all try to gather in celebration of a humble, gracious, gentle, and inspiring servant.

Peace be with you, and may light perpetual shine upon Heddie.  We love her and miss her already!

Jan
The Ven. Archdeacon Janice Grinnell

Fall Luncheon for Retired Clergy

The following is information about the upcoming retired Clergy Fall Luncheon.  Please call Jo Ann Drake if you need more information.

All Retired Clergy and Spouses and Those Nearing Retirement

ARE INVITED TO A FALL LUNCHEON

On Tuesday, October 28, 11:30 - 1:30

St. Paul's Church, Pawtucket

Food, Fellowship and Discussion

If you need a ride, please let Jo Ann know.

For out of towners, please know we continue to consider you part of the family

If you would prefer not to receive these emails, please let Jo Ann know.

Please RSVP to me (only) for lunch

The Reverend Jo-Ann J. Drake

Retired Priest, Diocese of Rhode Island

(401)725-5091

A New term for Our Deacon Students

Thanks to Ed Dean, here are the pictures of the first weekend of Deacon School.  Best wishes to all students!