In 2017, an historic step was taken by the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, when he consecrated five women to be deaconesses in the Congo. On May 2, 2024, Angelic Molen of Harare, Zimbabwe, was ordained Deaconess Angelic in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa (the Orthodox Church in the continent of Africa). This is a giant stride for The Orthodox Church, and is inevitably controversial.
Category: Story
At the moment we are sharing stories of deacons in their context. These might be stories of encounters or short reflections on what they experienced as God uses them in their ministry. Our fourth story is by Revd Caroline Brown, distinctive Deacon at St Peters Highfields in the diocese of Leicester. Ordained 2021 at Leicester … Continue reading STORY: A Deacon in her Workplace
At the moment we are sharing stories of deacons in their context. These might be stories of encounters or short reflections on what they experienced as God uses them in their ministry. Our third story is by Lindsay Smith. We are thankful that Lindsay has given us permission to repost her blog post . Please … Continue reading STORY: ‘People at the edges are at the centre of God’s story’
At the moment we are sharing stories of deacons in their context. These might be stories of encounters or short reflections on what they experienced as God uses them in their ministry. Our second story is by Deborah Maureen Baker (Debbie), a mental health staff nurse, NHS chaplain Licensed Durham Diocese, and parish deacon in … Continue reading STORY: From Psychiatric Nurse to Mental Health Chaplain
Over the next months, we will be sharing stories of deacons in their context. These might be stories of encounters or short reflections on what they experienced as God uses them in their ministry. Our first reflection is by David Bean, who is a hospice chaplain in the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham: "You're a … Continue reading STORY: Hospice Chaplaincy
Next weekend, I will have been ordained deacon for one year! Reflecting on the year past and the coming weeks has been interesting and from what I have heard from others, I am not the only one wrestling with what this milestone, which comes parallel to the ordination of my peers to the priesthood, means … Continue reading Approaching my Peers’ Ordination to Priesthood
In January, distinctive Deacons Chris Saccali (Athens) and Jonathan Halliwell (St John & St Philip, the Hague, Netherlands) (picture above) were invited by DDO for the Diocese in Europe, Canon William Gulliford, to speak to a group of enquirers. Chris and Jonathan both trained on the Eastern Region Ministry Course (Cambridge). Chris spoke very engagingly about … Continue reading Deacons in the Diocese of Europe
I have now formally stepped down as Chair of CENDD, and have handed over to Deacon Gill Newman, in whom I have the utmost confidence that she will lead the Network forward under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I have been so grateful for all those who have worked alongside me, prayed with me, shared their wisdom and contributed to the steering group over the past six years. I am amazed and grateful at the way ~God has brought forward new deacons to take over and develop roles in the national steering group.
“I came to the food bank, I still had my car and I was well dressed. As I entered the building I overheard people say – “what is she doing here?” That’s why it is so important to me that people don’t judge a book by its cover. We never know what is going on in someone’s life, behind closed doors.”
I recognised myself moving from orphan to son. People don’t think that they are worth something, worth anything. You can encounter poverty in so many places.
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 