THIS DEACON IS A BEACON The Rev. Meribah Mansfield marches at a rally alongside her husband and ministry partner, Bruce.
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I wrote an essay on diakonia (adapted into the article in this Connections issue on page 4-5) in December 2011, as part of my examination for ordination to the diaconate. I was ordained as a deacon on June 2, 2012. That essay was an academic exercise that accurately reflected what I was taught about the diaconate in the diocese’s School for the Diaconate, where I received excel-
lent preparation for becoming a deacon. This reflection is about my journey as a deacon, from my perspective seven years later. What is my role as a deacon? I perform the duties of a deacon in the church service. I am a catalyst, a connector, a representative of the church in the world. I am a bridge between parishioners and the world. My job is to be out front, to be a beacon, to
