Venerable Molly Solbak

Responsibilities

As the Archdeacon for Deacons, Molly’s responsibility is to support the Bishop in his ministry with the Deacons of the Diocese.  Together they uphold and champion the ministries of the Deacons and offer them pastoral care and encouragement. The Bishop and Molly consult regarding the Deacon’s ministry placement in a parish or institution of the Diocese, and plan the annual Deacons Day with the Bishop which is for fellowship as a community of Deacons and for spiritual and intellectual growth. She also promotes and advocates for the ministry of Deacons throughout the Diocese in parish settings and especially in the Discover Your Ministry course of the School of Christian Studies. Molly represents the Diocese at the Annual Conference for Archdeacons and Deacon Directors throughout the Episcopal Church.

Background

Having been born and raised in the Episcopal Church and having learned from her parents the importance of service in the Episcopal Church, Molly began her ministry as a Volunteer in Mission for the Episcopal Church Domestic and Foreign Missions teaching at the Bishop Hall Jubilee School in Hong Kong. She also taught at an Episcopal School, Shoin, in Kobe Japan. For a few years she taught English in the Aalesund Community college in Aalesund, Norway. Molly’s parish ministry time was spent in the parish which raised her up as a Deacon, Saint James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pa. There she was the curate for pastoral care serving mostly the senior communicants. This led to her appointment as diocesan representative to the Episcopal Society for Ministry on Aging in 1993 where she ultimately served on the Board as Vice President until the organization folded in 2001. In 2003 she was appointed Archdeacon for Deacons in this Diocese.  Molly has a BA from Lake Erie College and an MA from the Lancaster Theological Seminary. She received a diploma from the Diocesan School of Christian Studies and was ordained by Bishop McNutt to the Holy Order of Deacons in June 1989. She is married to Arne Ivar Solbak; they have three grown children and five grandchildren.