PIONEER DEACONS, 21 NOT OUT!
In The Methodist Recorder edition for September 17 1987, was featured a group of accepted candidates for the then Wesley Deaconess Order.
On 24/25 September 2008, this same group, minus one who deferred training and is now a probationer presbyter, who are now ordained members of Methodist Diaconal Order, got together for a 21st year re-union, at the recently refurbished Diaconal Centre, 26 St James Road, Birmingham.
Over 24 hours, we shared memories, food, laughter, food, news, food........
We prayed together, walked and talked together and enjoyed being without any particular agenda! We expressed our surprise and joy at all the paths our pioneering journey has taken us on in the intervening years, the rough and the smooth together and we thank God for the calling we each received and, continue to receive daily.
Gwenllian Knighton; Christopher Daniels; Kathy Lamb; Janet Durbin; Anne Ellenor; Hilary Smith; John Clarke; Glenda Sidding; Judith Ireland; Sarah Bruce; Meredith Evans. Also pictured are Sylvia Daniels and Ken Sidding, very much part of our Group and a great help and support to all of us.
We wish to pay tribute to all members of the Order who, 21 years ago, welcomed us most warmly into the fold and with whom we quickly felt at home: it was their vision that God still has a purpose for diaconal ministry that led to the Conference decision in 1986 to re-open the Order. We thank God for Rev. Eddie Lacy, Sister Sheila Parnell, Sister Nora Harrison and Deacon Christine Walters, for their inspiring, visionary and supportive leadership of the Order through the years of transition and onward journey. Eddie Lacy once commented that, at the time the Order re-opened, he felt like he was chaplain to a maternity ward birth, re-birth, new life!!
Since 1987, we have had the privilege of welcoming more lovely people into the Order who, also, have felt the call of God and our life together as the Order is enriched as each person sets out on this stage of their journey with God.
Deacons are scattered to all points of the compass, in many and diverse appointments but we are held together by our understanding that we help to focus the servant ministry of the whole Church; by our Rule of Life and our Prayer List, when we all pray for 3 Deacons and their situations every day. We also pray for all who are associated with the Order, as well as the President and Vice-President and the whole Connexion.
We stepped out in faith 21 years ago, as did the Methodist Church in accepting us as candidates and, it is our deepest prayer that as Deacons, through the years of our ministry so far, we have enabled and empowered others to also step out in faith in their ministry and walk with God.
Tis Jesus, the First and the Last; whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
Well praise Him for all that is past and trust Him for all thats to come. AMEN.