When Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde relaunched the Diaconate in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW) in 2014, she articulated a clear theological purpose: deacons exist to bridge the life of the Church and the world, especially the lives of those who are poor, marginalized, suffering, or oppressed. This vision echoes the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, which charges deacons to “interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world” and to serve those in need. EDOW describes deacons as “boundary crossers”—ordained ministers who move between the worshiping community and the wider world, bringing the concerns of each to the other.
St. John’s has been a great supporter of the restored Diaconate. I have been honored to serve as your Deacon since Bishop Mariann assigned me to St. John’s after ordination in 2018—and I have helped mentor four deacon interns at St. John's, three of whom are also now ordained and actively serving in the Diocese.
Our fourth deacon intern, Jayne Osgood [pictured with me], who trained with us from September 2025 through June 2026, will be ordained at the National Cathedral at 10 am on Saturday, September 12! Everyone is cordially invited to attend the ordination service and to celebrate Jayne as she takes this life-changing step!
We'll then have further reason to celebrate: on Sunday, September 13, Jayne will begin serving as St. John’s second deacon! We are grateful to Bishop Mariann for the gift of Jayne’s ministry.
► Click here to learn more about the role of deacons in the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Washington, and how they help support the faithful in responding to God’s command to transform the world.
- The Rev. Anne Derse, Deacon & Minister for Community Engagement