In the Book of Common Prayer our Outline of the Faith (AKA Catechism) includes these questions and answers:
Q. Who are the ministers of the Church?
A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.
Q. What is the ministry of the laity?
A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.
So while in the Episcopal Church the primary order of ministry is the laity, there are also three orders of ordained ministry: bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops are called to the work of leading, supervising, and uniting the church. Priests participate in the ministries of church governance, missionary and pastoral work; in preaching and in the administration of the sacraments. Deacons assist bishops and priests in all of this work, and have special responsibility to minister in Christ’s name to the poor, the sick, the suffering, and the helpless.
The call to ordained ministry is one we understand as a three-way conversation between an individual, their community and the Holy Spirit. The discernment process in the Episcopal Church is a long journey with robust opportunities for self-examination, spiritual direction and study. It is a process that begins with conversation with parish clergy and includes a parish lay discernment committee, vestry approval, affirmation from the bishop and diocese, seminary education, field study, clinical pastoral education and the General Ordination Exam.
At the end of that long, winding road those who are called to the priesthood are first ordained as transitional deacons … usually for six-to-twelve months … and will spend the first chapter of their ordained ministry following this charge given them by their bishop:
As a deacon in the Church, you are to study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishment from them, and to model your life upon them. You are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship. You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. You are to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God’s Word and Sacraments, and you are to carry out other duties assigned to you from time to time. At all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ’s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself.
We are thrilled to announce that Antonio Gallardo and Lauren Grubaugh have both received the necessary consents from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Los Angeles and will shortly be ordained as transitional deacons.
• Antonio will be ordained on Saturday, June 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John’s Cathedral.
• Lauren will be ordained on Saturday, July 21st, at 10:00 a.m. here at All Saints Church.
Both services will be followed by festive receptions here at All Saints.
Mark your calendars now for these two opportunities to gather and both support and celebrate the ministry of these two extraordinary servants and leaders. And keep them both in your prayers as they prepare to mark the end of one long chapter of discernment and preparation and begin a new adventure as deacons.
