The Diaconate
| Ordination to the Diaconate |
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Ordained Nov. 10, 2007, St. John's Cathedral: Dayle Michaud, Helen Hunter and Karen Terlinski, seen with The Rev. Peter Flynn and the Rt Rev. Donald Phillips. |
The mandate of the deacon is “to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world” and in particular, “to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely” (BAS p. 655). Deacons are also seen as icons of servanthood ministry in parish liturgy and ministry settings as well as in their work lives in the world outside the parish. They are to encourage and call forth parish members to take on servanthood roles as part of their baptismal ministry and, perhaps, to discern a call to the diaconate.
The Diaconate Working Group (DWG) was formed in 2002 in response to a resolution of the 2000 Diocesan Synod requesting "the bishop to develop clear guidelines for the discernment, training and deployment of vocational deacons." This was a step toward restoring the diaconate as a “full and equal order.”
In 2003-2005, the DWG produced a two-part report on the vision and mission of the diaconate, the role and place of deacons in the diocese, guidelines for diaconal selection, placement, and ordination, and the ministry of deacons in the church and in the world. The DWG has since produced documents on the discernment, selection, training, and ordination of prospective deacons. (See Documents below.)
In 2005-2006, the Bishop appointed a Coordinator of Deacons’ Formation (CDF) to assist in the preparation of candidates and their parishes for diaconal ministry.
In 2007 a diocesan ACPO for Deacons was held for the first six candidates. These candidates took a diaconal preparatory course, “Interpreting the World,” offered at St. John’s College Faculty of Theology. (See An Historic Event for the Diocese of Rupert's Land below.)
In 2008, the six were ordained as deacons and were invited, along with the original three deacons, to meet with Bishop Phillips to discuss forming a diocesan Network of Deacons (NoD). The DWG continues to work to fulfill its vision of eventually having a deacon in every parish.
Ordained to the diaconate as a full and equal order:
- The Rev. Deacon Helen Hunter (St. Bartholomew, Winnipeg)
- The Rev. Deacon Abraham Kuol Chuol (Emmanuel Mission, Winnipeg)
- The Rev. Deacon Dayle Michaud (St. Mary Magdalene, Winnipeg)
- The Rev. Deacon Eric Parsons (St. Margaret’s, Winnipeg)
- The Rev. Deacon Linda Stokes (St. Aidan’s, Winnipeg)
- The Rev. Deacon Karen Terlinski (St. Thomas, Winnipeg).
Also in deacon's orders:
- The Rev. Deacon Wes Barrett (Hodgson-Peguis Area)
- The Rev. Deacon Valerie Christopherson (St. Barnabas, Winnipeg)
- The Rev. Deacon Ed Maddock (St. Thomas, Morden)
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Members of the Diaconate Working Group: the Rev. Dn. Linda Stokes, Ross Steer, the Rev. Canon Peter Flynn (Coordinator of Deacons' Formation), the Ven. Fletcher Stewart, the Rev. Dr. Louise Cornell (Chair).
The Diaconate Working Group [DWG] was established in 2002 by Bishop Donald D. Phillips as a response to Resolution C-6 of the 2000 meeting of the Diocesan Synod. The resolution, which was referred to the Diocesan Council and was carried at the January 2001 meeting of the Council, requested "the bishop to develop clear guidelines for the discernment, training and deployment of vocational deacons and to report back to the next regular session of Synod." The original members of the DWG were Rev. Dr. M. Louise Cornell (Chair), Rev. Rick Condo, Rev. Peter Flynn, Mrs. Linda Parsons, Bp. Don Phillips and Mrs. Shirley Smith). In 2008, DWG members are: The Rev. Deacon Valerie Christopherson, The Rev. Dr. M. Louise Cornell (Chair), The Rev. Canon Peter Flynn, The Rt. Rev. Donald Phillips, Mr. Ross Steer, The Ven. Fletcher Stewart, and The Rev. Deacon Linda Stokes.
In 2003-2005, the DWG worked to produce a major report on its vision and mission as to the role, ministry, and place of deacons in our diocese; guidelines for diaconal selection, placement, and ordination; the ministry of deacons in the church and in the world; and the visible signs of the deacon (vestments, titles, etc.) Deacons were visualized particularly as icons of servanthood ministry in parish settings and in their work in the world outside the parish, to call forth parish members to serve in “small-d” diaconal ministry as part of their baptismal ministry or to seek to enter diaconal ministry themselves.
The DWG has since produced various documents to assist in the work of discernment of prospective deacons: The Diaconal Discernment and Formation Track [DDAFT] Chart which provides information on the steps towards discernment, selection, training, and ordination; the Competencies document, which discusses the skills needed by prospective deacons; the Diaconate and Baptism Covenant, which uses the baptismal covenant to provide guidelines for diaconal discernment; and a statement on Diaconal Capacities. The DWG has met once a year with the Diocesan Discernment Group on Ordained Ministry to discuss these documents and to make them available for that committee’s work on diaconal calling, gifting, discernment, and selection. Over the past six years, members of the DWG have also produced a number of articles on the diaconate for the Rupert’s Land News.
In 2002, DWG members attended the Diakonia Conference o the Americas, which provided a basis for the initial vision of the scope of its task. Since then, the DWG has produced a number of reports on its work to the Diocesan Council as well as reports to the 2004 and 2006 Synods; conducted three workshops on the diaconate at Faith Horizons 2003, 2005, and 2007, and a Parish Education Day on the diaconate in 2006; met with various national and international consultants and with the Executive of the Anglican Association of Deacons in Canada [AADC]; and developed the first diocesan ACPO for Deacons [ACPO/D], with one external assessor also present to provide “national” standing for the candidates’ discernment and selection.
In 2005-2006, the Bishop appointed the Rev. Peter Flynn as the Coordinator of Deacons’ Formation [CDF], to meet with prospective candidates for the diaconate and their parish priests, undertake an initial assessment of the candidates’ background preparation, and assist them in preparing to enter the process of discernment.
The DWG has also overseen the development of a diaconal preparatory course entitled “Interpreting the World,” offered in 2007-08 through St. John’s College Faculty of Theology. Subsequent to that course, in Spring 2008, the first of the six deacons under this rubric—Helen Hunter, Dayle Michaud, and Karen Terlinski—were ordained in the diocese at a service held at St. John’s Cathedral at which Deacon Maylanne Maybee of the Diocese of Toronto was invited to preach. Abraham Kuol, Eric Parsons, and Linda Stokes were ordained shortly afterward.
In Summer 2008, the six new deacons along with long-time deacon Valerie Christopherson met with Bishop Phillips to discuss the formation of a Network of Deacons [NoD] in the diocese; it is anticipated that a representative of this group will liaise with the DWG.
Diaconal organizations with which the DWG is in contact (see Useful Links below):
- Anglican Association of Deacons in Canada
- North American Association for the Diaconate (NAAD).
On April 13–14, 2007 a historic event for Rupert’s Land took place at the St. Charles’ Retreat Centre in Winnipeg, namely our first Advisory Committee on Postulants for Ordination for Deacons (ACPO-D). As a result, six persons received recommendations to the Bishop for acceptance as postulants for ordination to the deaconate (as distinct from those who become deacons in order to become priests). The candidates included: Helen Hunter of St. Bartholomew’s, a retired medical lab worker, now an Adult Day Care worker at a personal care home; Abraham Kuol from Emmanuel Mission, a food processing worker and one of the ‘lost boys’ of Sudan; Dayle Michaud of St. Mary Magdalene’s, a retired nursing home nursing assistant; Dr. Eric Parsons (St. Margaret’s), a self employed dentist; Linda Stokes of St. Aidan’s, a retired manager from MTS; and Karen Terlinski from St. Thomas Weston, a parish nurse.
An ACPO conference is normally part of the vocational discernment process for those seeking ordination and represents the involvement of the National Church in presenting persons for ordination. Candidates, affirmed by their parish and forwarded by the Diocesan Discernment Group on Ordained Ministry (DDGOM) attend in order to be interviewed for recommendation to the Bishop as postulants for ordination. This is a key step for people in their vocational development. In this case our Bishop has accepted each of the six as diaconal postulants. Although the diocese already has three (non-transitional) deacons, these six are the first to be recommended specifically for the order of deacon.
This event is a further development in the process undertaken at the behest of our Bishop after the synod of 2000 and affirmed by the diocese at the 2004 synod. This is a moment for rejoicing and one result of years of work by the Diaconal Working Group. It represents also the outcome of much prayer and struggle.
Any ACPO conference involves people in intense prayerful listening and labour. The central burden falls on the assessors. At this conference the assessors were: Bernie Beare, Synod Secretary and Teresa Cameron, both if St. Paul’s Fort Garry and members of DDGOM; the Ven. Godfrey Mawejji of St. Clement’s Mapleton and St. George’s Wakefield; the Rev. Jennifer Sisson (Church of the Good Shepherd) and chair of DDGOM; Shirley Smith of St. Paul’s Fort Garry, member of the DWG; and The Rev. Heather MacEachern from the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island representing the National Church. The Rev. Bob Brownlee served as chaplain giving pastoral support and organizing worship. The secretary (administrating the conference) was the Rev. Dr. Peter Flynn (Coordinator of Diaconal Development); The Rev. Dn.Val Christopherson acted as administrative assistant. Importantly, the conference team included our Bishop giving oversight and direction. Of course the process relies heavily on our diocesan office staff.
At the time of writing the six postulants await an interview with the Bishop to determine the next step in their journey towards ordination. We continue in prayer for them and others who are exploring a vocation to the diaconate.
Coordinator of Deacons’ Formation: The Rev. Canon Peter Flynn
If you are interested in being considered for diaconal ministry, consult first with your parish incumbent or other spiritual coordinator (e.g., in the workplace). Then, contact the Coordinator of Deacons’ Formation. His responsibilities include meeting with prospective candidates for the diaconate and with their parish priests, undertaking an initial assessment of the candidates’ background preparation, and assisting them in preparing to enter the process of discernment.
(204) 475-2941 (h)
(204) 467-8466 (w)
jpflynnshaw.ca
Diaconate Working Group: The Rev. Dr. Louise Cornell (Chair)
(204) 275-0226 (h)
(204) 433-7488 (w)
lcornell
Association of Anglican Deacons in Canada
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