On Being a Deacon in Southwest Florida Deacons Connect Congregations to the Community By The Rev. Canon Michael Durning Canon to the Ordinary
WHILE WE MIGHT see and know our local deacon at work in the parish, what is often overlooked is the larger role played by the Deacon among the 14 counties that make up the Diocese of Southwest Florida. In its newly-minted handbook entitled The Discernment Journey, our Commission on Ministry tells us that the word “deacon” is derived from the Greek meaning “servant” or “envoy”. The Deacon must learn to be in the church and in the world as servants, and to energize and inspire servant hood in others– helping the Laity to discover places where they can connect with God in Christ beyond the worship services in the Church. Deacons in our Diocese carry this out in a rich variety of ways working with the homeless, food pantries, social work, and in chaplaincies for hospitals, schools, prisons, and the military. Our Deacons are often on mission teams continued on next page 14
Present and past deacons in Southwest Florida. At top,The Rev. Gretchen Platt (left) and husband Ken with volunteers sorting canned goods for donation at Annual Convention in Punta Gorda in 2014 as part of the annual Canly Cup food competition. At far right are the three who are set to be ordained as deacons June 13 (see p. 14), including Rosalind Hall, Cynthia Roehl and Pamela Milhan. Below, Deacon Alisa Carmichael at a food truck rally at St.Anselm’s USF Chapel Center.