Australian Bishop Tom Frame does some serious and honest thinking about the diaconate in this address to the Anglican diocese of Melbourne. It's titled "The diaconate in 2030: What might it look like and how do we get there?" by Tom Frame, Director of St Mark’s National Theological Centre and Professor of Theology at Charles … Continue reading THE DIACONATE IN 2030
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.
Ignatian spirituality is profoundly important for many deacons, especially for his spiritual exercises. Today the church celebrates Ignatius of Loyola. St. Ignatius Loyola was born in 1491, one of 13 children of a family of minor nobility in northern Spain. As a young man Ignatius Loyola was inflamed by the ideals of courtly love and knighthood and … Continue reading FEAST DAY OF ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA
Chris Whinney (Diocese of Exeter) muses on the difference in his ministry from when he was a Reader compared with now, when he has been an ordained Deacon for eight years. Being a deacon as opposed to a Reader has given me a deeper sense of responsibility and commitment. This in turn I think gives … Continue reading FROM READER TO DEACON: Christopher Whinney
Last week I posted Rosalind's first paper from the International Roman Catholic - Anglican Conference on the Diaconate which took place in May in Canada. I'm so pleased to share her second paper, on the role of the Deacon in Worship. Here's a taster to whet your appetite: So the deacon offers hospitality on … Continue reading HOSPITALITY: THE DEACON IN WORSHIP. Rosalind Brown
It's wonderful that we deacons can now honour the first black American deaconess saint, Anna Alexander. Her parents were recently-emancipated slaves, and everything was against her. Despite it all, she developed a ministry of great fruitfulness. What an inspiration! General Convention has added Deaconess Anna Alexander, who began her ministry at Good Shepherd in Pennick, … Continue reading A NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN DEACONESS SAINT
On this diaconal site, for once, St Macrina will precede her influential brother! Gregory wrote a memoir of his sister's life: http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/gregory_macrina_1_life.htm Here's a taster, which may appeal to big sisters everywhere: Macrina's brother, the great Basil, returned after his long period of [966C] education, already a practised rhetorician. He was puffed up beyond measure … Continue reading FEAST OF ST MACRINA, DEACONESS, AND ST GREGORY OF NYSSA
Many deacons are helped and inspired by the brilliant Canon Rosalind Brown's book 'Being a Deacon Today'. She is one of our leading theologians on the diaconate, and also attended the international conference on the diaconate in Canada this May, where she presented two papers. I'm delighted to have her permission to publish them here. … Continue reading ROSALIND BROWN: Theological Underpinnings of the Diaconate
In May this year there was a major international conference on the diaconate in Canada. Rev Frances Wilson, Bishop's Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Lichfield, attended and has kindly shared with us her reflections. They make fascinating reading and provide much food for thought especially as we consider our national conference this October. … Continue reading REFLECTIONS: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DIACONATE
Because our autumn conference, Deacons on the Move, has been so over-subscribed we've spent the week moving venues to Queens Foundation college, about 10 minutes down the road from Woodbrooke: http://www.queens.ac.uk/ The conference will take place in the Frances Young centre. I'm delighted to say that the move has made lots more tickets available, so … Continue reading STOP PRESS** CHANGE OF VENUE** MORE TICKETS AVAILABLE!
Loadsa new deacons this year, coming up to ordination this weekend! Praise God and pray for them. Abi is second from left with her little daughter Lily Abi Davison is being ordained as a distinctive deacon this Sunday in York Minster. Here's a snippet of her story: Abigail Davison will continue to work as a … Continue reading NEW DISTINCTIVE DEACONS EN ROUTE
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 