Cross-diocesan School for Deacons
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The Gathering Place outdoor
service in Richmond - organized by Deacon Becki Dean of St. Michael's,
Bon Air. This time of worship and community is geared to meet the needs
of those who might not find their way into a church on Sunday morning.
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This new school has been
created specifically for the training of deacons. A total of twelve to
fifteen postulants, recommended by the Commission on Ministry of their
respective diocese and approved by their bishop, will attend. The school
will meet at Chanco on the James and at Shalom House in the Diocese of
Virginia. The school's teachers and staff come from both dioceses, as
well as from around the Episcopal Church. When postulants complete the
school and receive candidacy, they will be ordained to the diaconate and
assigned to a parish by their bishop for a certain period of time.
Although deacons can be
seen assisting at the liturgy, the liturgical function is just one part
of a deacon's ministry. Deacons often serve among those who are anxious,
fearful or live in the shadows of life - particularly the poor, sick
and oppressed. In those shadows, deacons serve with compassion to help
bring about healing, hope and restoration where possible.
In ministry, deacons
visibly represent the Church proclaiming the Risen Lord is alive and
walks among us. In so doing, they also seek to inspire each one of us to
serve in our own unique way as best our strengths and gifts will
permit. A deacon's ministry is one that weaves together the Church, the
world and the Risen Christ into the fabric of everyday common life that
wraps around us.
Your diocesan pledge makes possible this gift to the Episcopal Church in Southern Virginia and indeed the whole of God's Church.
