Teaching: North American Association for the Diaconate to meet June 21-24 in Seattle

Opportunities for continuing education, fresh ideas for ministry, and networking to expand the vision for mission in the new millennium are the backdrop for the 2007 Conference of the North American Association for the Diaconate (NAAD).

The NAAD is an organization in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada that promotes renewal of the diaconate, supports deacons and dioceses with deacons, and engages in theological dialogue about diakonia.

“Being There: Mission for a New Millennium” is set for June 21-24 on the campus of Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will deliver the keynote address on June 22.

Karen McCarthy Casey, founder of “Inspired Action,” will facilitate the first workshop, “Café of Hope Continuum,” which will immediately follow Jefferts Schori’s message and begin a conversation designed to access deeper wisdom, build on shared knowledge, and expand on collective capacities to serve churches and communities.

Conference presenters will include the Rev. Janet Campbell, director of Liturgy and the Arts at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, Washington; the Rev. Pam Armstrong, ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bremerton, Washington; John Barnes, a counselor at McNeil Island Prison and pastor affiliated with Assemblies of God Church; Terri Lolcama, a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, in Olympia, Washington and a postulant for the Diaconate; Aileen MacLaren Loranger, Ph.D., RN, a parish nurse at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina, Washington; the Rev. Dennis Taylor, a parish nurse for a cluster of five congregations in the Northwest interior of Washington State; Steve Tellari, M.Ed., a community service advocate for St. James Episcopal Church, in Kent, Washington and postulant for the Diaconate; Brian Sellers-Peterson, director of Episcopal Relief and Development’s (ERD) West Coast Operations; David Baylor, ERD representative for the Diocese of Olympia; and the Rev. Jeffery Lee, rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, in Medina, Washington and faculty member for CREDO.

Campbell’s workshop, “The Deacon in the Liturgy,” will offer guided conversation related to deacons and liturgy.

“God’s Servants on Both Sides of the Wall: Prison Ministry” is a workshop that will include information about Kairos Prison Ministry, and discussion around restorative justice versus retributive justice. Armstrong, Barnes, and Lolcama, who have been involved with prison ministry for more than 10 years, will lead this workshop.

“Health Ministry: Serving Community through Christ’s Healing Mission” is a workshop that will explore the ministry of health within a faith community and its mission to connect individuals, families and the community-at-large with activities that promote health, healing and wholeness. Loranger, and Taylor will lead.

Tellari’s workshop, “Trends in Community Organizing for Multi-Cultural Ministry,” will focus on servant hood in ethnic communities.

“What Can One Person Do? The Millennium Development Goals and You” will look at ways ERD, the Church and the Anglican Communion are working to eliminate extreme global poverty. Sellers-Peterson and Baylor will lead this workshop.

Lee’s workshop, “The Heart of the Matter: The Practice of Wellness and the Holy Trinity,” will use images of the Trinity to consider ways in which deacons can practice self-care for the sake of ministry.

The four-day conference will begin with a reception on June 21 at 5 p.m. and continue through June 24.

The full cost of registration is $600 single occupancy, $470 double occupancy, and $330 for commuter/off campus. Prices include conference program, lodging, meals, parking and sales tax plus one ticket for the Tillicum Village Banquet.