In Service: The Role of Deacons in Global Mission is the theme of the first Mission Thursday of the fall, to be held online at 1pm on Sept. 11. Sponsored by the Global Episcopal Mission Network, this webinar will feature a number of Episcopal deacons sharing how their role as deacons and their experiences in global mission came together in Holy Spirit moments.
Register for this Zoom webinar here at Eventbrite. The event is free and open to the public. It is the first Mission Thursday to focus on the role of deacons.
Deacons play a vital role in global mission by:
- Serving as bridges between the church and the world,
- Proclaiming the Gospel in word and action,
- Responding to human need, and
- Promoting a “do with” rather than a “do for” approach to global engagement.
Diakonia, the Greek word for service, reaches out to all persons created in God’s image, and to all of God’s creation.
The webinar will be anchored by two deacons who are members of GEMN’s Board of Directors:
- The Rev. Canon Robin Newman is deacon at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Bronx, New York, and honorary canon in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika, Tanzania. She is a member of the Global Mission Commission of the Diocese of New York and is the Global Mission Advocate for the diocese. View Robin being interviewed in August about her diaconal ministry by New York Bishop Matt Heyd: link.
- The Rev. Dr. Nancy D. Searby is deacon at St. Francis Episcopal Church, Great Falls,
Virginia, and is GEMN’s vice president. Nancy’s congregation has a 26-year relationship with the Diocese of Ezo in South Sudan. She was active in the relationships her previous parish, St. Dunstan’s in McLean, has with the Diocese of Liberia and the Diocese of Central Tanganyika.
Stay tuned for other deacons who will be joining the conversation.
This year, two important diaconal gatherings touched on the role of deacons as icons for service in the world. Nancy attended the triennial conference of the Association for Episcopal Deacons, held in San Antonio in June. It focused on the theme of “Ignite Change” and highlighted deacons’ call to interpret the needs of the world to the church and to encourage the church to challenge injustice.
In July, Robin attended the 2025 Diakonia World Federation Assembly in Moshi, Tanzania, which focused on “Dancing the Faith – Drumming the Hope.” She led a workshop on “Holy Ground, Global Companions: The Deacon’s Dance of Service.” The Diakonia World Federation offers an international and ecumenical community of diaconal friendship, connecting deacons in diversity and commonality. It reminds the church of God’s call to service, justice, compassion, and peace for creation, and assists deacons in living out their ministries in the world with vision and hope. Held every four years, this was the first federation assembly held in Africa.
Come and see how deacons and global companions learn from one another, and hear insights and stories from recent gatherings.