Random bits of life. In a couple of weeks I’ll be going to Virginia for the ordination of one of my classmates. In the Episcopal church, priests are ordained as deacons first, then after about 6 months, they are ordained as priests. The theory is that we must learn the work of deacons - we must learn to be outwardly focused on those that need help from the church - before we turn our focus inward as priests. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really work that way. Even though we are ordained as deacons, most of us never actually do diaconate work. Instead, some are ordained while still in seminary, meaning that when they graduate they will be ordained as priests right away. Others, like me, will be ordained as a deacon after graduation, but whatever church hires me will have me do priestly type work, until I am a priest and can fulfill all the duties of a priest. I sort of think that if they want us all to really be deacons, then they should really provide opportunities (paid, of course) for us to work as deacons. But, anyway, this is how they do it so this is how it is done.
My dog is awesome. She is so smart. In just a few short weeks she has learned why we go outside and now waits to go outside. In fact, last night she was pacing by the door and we realized that she was signaling to us that she needed to go out (the first time she’s done that). And, sure enough she did need to go out. Also, during the night if we don’t hear her, she will just go right inside the front door, so we’ve started to leave a puppy training pad there and she uses that. No more messes in the house. Yeah. That was so much easier than I thought it would be.
My poor little Ella is sick today. I could tell yesterday that she wasn’t feeling well - when she tried to do her homework she was really frustrated by it and just started crying. That’s really not typical of her and I wondered if she was not feeling well. Sure enough, she awoke at 4am with a fever. So, she’s home on the couch today.
I made Julie’s blog!!!!!!
The whole issue of PAID positions for deacons is yet to be addressed. In many (most?) cases, those serving in the vocational diaconate are not paid through the church. They are expected to be in the world, and paid in their secular jobs, while serving the Lord. I have known a dentist, several socials workers, an Army Corp of Engineers manager, and a lawyer all who were deacons serving in a parish, responding to the Bishop, etc … all without a cent of compensation from the church. The few deacons I know who are paid is through some “arrangement” within their parish. Until that issue does get addressed, its unlikely that transitional deacons will find any real diaconal work.
Tom B.