Fighting talk! What do you think of this argument, to ditch 'full and equal ministry' as a description of the diaconate, and replace it with 'separate and distinct'? (image from Loyalty360) Separate and Distinct: a Reframe of the Diaconate. December 7, 2018 / kjpmcgrane I recently read a comment in an internet chat between deacons, where … Continue reading SEPARATE AND DISTINCT: A REFRAME OF THE DIACONATE
Author: GillK
Gill has been a missioner in Nigeria, Romania and various parishes in England. She was ordained a 'distinctive' deacon in 1991. In this capacity she was warden of the College of St Philip the Deacon in Exeter diocese, and founder member of the CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons https://cofedeacons.org. She has also written the story of her own call, Deacon by Design. https://www.waterstones.com/book/deacon-by-design/gill-kimber/9781910719794
She's passionate about the diaconate and, now retired, continues to support those who are called to this ministry.
Archbishop ordains 17 new Deacons for the Diocese of York The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, ordained 17 serving Readers to be Deacons in the Church of God during a service in York Minster on Sunday 13th January 2019. As Readers the candidates were admitted and licensed after a process of selection and training … Continue reading AN INFLUX OF NEW DEACONS!
If you click on this title you can listen to the poem. What If… “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 … Continue reading EVERY IDLE WORD
In Pictures: Christians mark feast of the Epiphany with pageantry and prayer By Press Association Published: 19:59 GMT, 6 January 2019 | Updated: 20:01 GMT, 6 January 2019 Christians across the world have been marking Epiphany, with worshippers plunging into icy waters and parades being held in Poland and elsewhere. At the Vatican, Pope Francis … Continue reading EPIPHANY AROUND THE WORLD
James Tissot, the Magi Journeying c 1890 Epiphany It might have been just someone else’s story, Some chosen people get a special king. We leave them to their own peculiar glory, We don’t belong, it doesn’t mean a thing. But when these three arrive they bring us with them, Gentiles like us, their wisdom might … Continue reading FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
Many of you know that there is a developing conversation around the country between the Rev Dr David Hewlett, Principal of Queens Foundation, and both bishops and heads of other ordination training courses. Recently the bishop of Portsmouth responded to his deacon ordinand, who had sent him the options David is suggesting, with this question: … Continue reading APOLOGETICS – A DIACONAL APPROACH
Very positive support from the Director for Theological Education in the Anglican Communion, Rev Canon Dr Stephen Spencer, concerning the proposed #distinctivedeacontraining at Queens Foundation @queensfdn: "The modules that David Hewlett is suggesting look spot on to me. The range of topics and structure look excellent." See the details of Dr Hewlett's proposal here: https://deaconstories.wordpress.com/2018/12/15/diaconally-focused-training-a-message-from-the-principal-of-queens-foundation/ … Continue reading DIRECTOR OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION in Anglican Communion supports focused diaconal formation
A very blessed Christmas to you all, and a peaceful and hopeful new year. I can do no better than offer you a poem of Ephrem, a deacon of the early church in Asia. Although Christmas was not a major celebration in the early church, “Hymn on the Nativity IV,” one in a series of … Continue reading A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!
I'm thrilled to announce our next national deacons' conference! It will be on 16 May 2020 at the same venue as this year, the Frances Young Centre at Queen's Foundation, Birmingham. The speaker will be the Rt Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, and Chair of the Church of England Ministry Council. … Continue reading NEXT DEACONS’ NATIONAL CONFERENCE! (and what to do until then)
When we had our national conference in Birmingham in October, the Principal of Queens Foundation, Dr David Hewlett, attended the whole conference and announced that he's planning to include some courses especially with deacons in mind. He already has three deacons on his staff, two Methodist and one Anglican: and the college trains Methodist deacons … Continue reading DIACONALLY-FOCUSED TRAINING: a message from the Principal of Queen’s Foundation
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 