Loading...The Deacons of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania are called to a special ministry of servanthood under the Bishop. We are assigned by the Bishop to exercise our ministry to the poor, the weak, the sick and lonely in a parish of our Diocese where we will be supervised by the rector. However, due to the nature of our service directly under the Bishop, we meet with him annually to build collegiality among the community of deacons and to be nurtured by the wisdom, collegiality, and spirituality of the Bishop.
This year our meeting with the Bishop was held on September 25 in the upper croft of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. We opened with coffee and socialization. When we gather as a group we are always so glad to see each other we bubble over with enthusiasm as each deacon arrives during our opening coffee hour.
Our program for this day began with a session of Q and A with the Bishop over topics rising out of two resolutions which were passed at the last convention of the Episcopal Church regarding the establishment of programs for the alleviation of Domestic Poverty (A155) and the Economic Justice Implications of Immigration (B006). He handed out copies of The Millennium Goals and a pastoral letter issued by the House of Bishops on the immigration crisis. Lest this sound like we had a political discussion, the Bishop was very clear to remind us that these are spiritual matters where we are invited to seek Christ in the person of the impoverished. We are to love with Christ like we love those we are called to serve. God is at work in our relationships with the poor and in our attempts to help them help themselves rise out of their situations of poverty. When the spirit of God works in our endeavors, miracles do happen. I can say that each one of the deacons present was enlightened by our discussion with the Bishop.
When the Bishop left us to visit with those six individuals planning to be ordained to the Diaconate on October 31, the Deacons continued the discussion of the resolution on poverty. We named and discussed what our communities are doing in the way of innovative programs to address issues related to nutrition, employment, childcare, education, healthcare, environment, housing, equal protection under the law and cultural affirmations. In looking at that list, we discovered that one important issue in the daily lives of those we serve was not mentioned: that being the issue of transportation. The kind of sharing and helping and suggesting and trading of information that ensued was very invigorating and insightful for the Deacons present.
At noon we were joined by the candidates for ordination who will soon be part of our community of deacons. We had a short service of Holy Communion together and more sharing of insights over a sermon the Bishop handed out preached by Martin Luther King.
Following lunch Deacons Anne Flynn and Janice Fritz presented for us the newest sexual abuse training produced by the Church Insurance Company entitled “Safe Guarding All God’s People.”
Hopefully everyone had as stimulating a day as I reflected upon while driving home. We enjoy each other’s company, we enjoy being with our Bishop and we reflected upon serious topics of interest to our calling as servant ministers.
