Deacons exercise a ministry of love

within the community

Their model is the servant role of Jesus

by Ana Watts

Not many people are fortunate enough to have “love” in their job descriptions, but deacons do, and Bishop Claude Miller believes we could use more of them in our diocese. At the moment we have three — the Rev. Francene (Fran) Bedell of Edmundston, the Rev. Constance Whittaker-Soulikias of Saint John, and the Rev. Joyce Perry of Fredericton. In the not too distant future we will have two more: Eleanor Dryden of the Parish of the Nerepis and St. John and Debra Edmondson of the Parish of Bright are current candidates for ordination.

Most New Brunswick Anglicans have known many deacons over the years, deacons who were subsequently raised to the priesthood — “transitional” deacons. Theirs is a different ministry from the one Bishop Miller had in mind in April of 2007 when he named a Diocesan Deaconate Commission to make the diocese aware of the benefits of the “vocational” deacon ministry, to develop an educational program for those called by God to this servant role, and to provide oversight to that community. Ordination to this deaconate is not a stepping-stone to the priesthood, it is a vocation all its own.

Commission members Fran Bedell (in the photo above), the Rev. Canon Neville Cheeseman of Fredericton, and Thomas Nisbett, an active lay person in his Parish of Riverview, have worked hard to fulfill the bishop’s mandate. Sometimes meeting as often as three times a month, they have developed a program of formation and ministry of deacons.

“A deacon is neither a mini-priest nor a priest-in-training,” says Fran Bedell, who serves as deacon-in-charge of the St. John the Baptist Anglican and St. Paul's United shared ministry in Edmundston (Parish of Madawaska). To some it might appear she takes the place of a priest in an Anglican community too small to maintain a full-time parish ministry, but she is adamant that she does not. Archdeacon Walter Williams is the priest-in-charge of her parish.

“I am in Edmundston to provide pastoral care and a visible connection to the larger church. I ensure the work of the church in the community is done,” she says.

She doesn’t see her present role as a typical one for a deacon but she and the other members of the commission, with the assistance of scripture and tradition, have established a general profile for a diaconal ministry as they work to build up a community of deacons.

“The bishop has a vision of mission for deacons based on agape (divine love) and diakonia (sacred service) which encompasses the church and the world,” she says.

Like priests, deacons are recognized and raised-up in their own parishes. They meet with the rector who forms a discernment committee. The territorial archdeacon chairs the first meeting of this committee and the discernment process takes up to six months. If a call to the priesthood is discerned, the person is referred to the diocese’s Vocational Chaplains. Someone called to the deaconate is referred to the Deaconate Commission.

The educational component includes some credit courses from a seminary that can be done through distance education. The rest of the education portion is done in-house with classes led by experts from within the diocese.

To recognize their relationship to the bishop, ordination of a deacon takes place in Christ Church Cathedral. Most deacons are non-stipendiary, many of them are employed elsewhere and some are retired with pensions. Although the deacons active in this diocese now are women, there is no gender restriction.

The incumbent and deacon agree to an annual covenant that outlines duties, roles and responsibilities of the deacon, incumbent, and bishop.

“The deacon and priest have to figure out how the church can best serve the community and enhance the Anglican presence,” says Canon Cheeseman.

“Deacons provide a connection and care for people,” says Mr. Nisbett.

Priests are appointed to several different parishes throughout their ministry, but deacons, by and large, remain in the parish in which they begin their discernment journey as a source of stability and pastoral care.

“It is critical that people don’t think that deacons are an answer to the shortage of priests,” says Ms. Bedell. “Deacons can be a continuing presence of the church in the community in the absence of a priest, but they do not fill the priest’s role. The role of a deacon is primarily outside of the church, the priest looks after the inside, especially the liturgy. The deacon is, however, called upon ‘To assist the Bishop or Priest in the Divine Service, and other ministrations to the people of God.’ (Catechism: BCP p. 554).”

Deacons traditionally read the gospel, offer prayers of the people, set the communion table, perform ablutions, dismiss the people and send them out to the community.

In her role as deacon-in-charge of the Parish of Madawaska, Ms. Bedell has enabled the small Edmundston congregation to become a mighty force. The parish’s outreach committee asks itself “Where are the needs?” and answers with action.

The people adopted a group home for mentally challenged adults, they visit once a month, celebrate residents’ birthdays, enjoy the activities of friendship and provide Christmas dinner each year.

They send socks, gloves and hats to the soup kitchen. They ensure the homeless man who often comes to the church has good boots, and they maintain a transient fund so they can always give those in need enough for a meal and a room.

They donate money for scholarships so young people can attend diocesan summer camps. In fact, they feel this connection is so important for the community, that the camp scholarships are included in the parish budget.

They also respond quickly and willingly when the need arises.

“The people in Edmundston were among the first to respond when Farralaine Place flooded last spring,” says Canon Cheeseman, who also serves on the Farralaine board.

“A deacon cannot replace a priest, but I can see at some point there will be deacons in parishes that have to share a priest,” says Ms. Bedell.

Members of the Deaconate Commission are available to speak to greater chapter, vestry and other church group meetings. “We will speak to anyone who wants to hear us,” says Canon Cheeseman.

Contact any Deaconate Commission member:

Thomas Nisbett (506) 372-4939 <Nisbettt at yahoo.ca>

Fran Bedell (207) 728-3541 <cebfran at gwi.net >

Neville Cheeseman (506) 455-8690 <njcheese at nb.sympatico.ca>.

Diocesan Communications
30 December 2008