Five people will be ordained deacon at Carlisle Cathedral this weekend, adding to a bumper year for ordinands for the Diocese of Carlisle.
In total 13 people will have answered a call to ordained ministry in 2021, with eight others already having been ordained as curates in June.
The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, will lead the ordination of distinctive deacons this weekend; the ordinands will remain deacons having chosen not to be ordained priests next year.
Distinctive deacons have a full ministry in the Church of England but unlike priests, cannot preside at the Eucharist, pronounce the absolution or pronounce the Trinitarian blessing. Deacons focus on a servant ministry, particularly to the poor and marginalised and more generally in the wider community.
The service at 2.30pm on Saturday, September 4 will also be live-streamed on both the Diocese of Carlisle and Carlisle Cathedral Facebook pages.
The group includes: retired photographer Gordon Dugmore, who will serve Ullswater Mission Community; a former police officer Andrew Gardner, to serve Penrith Mission Community; retired defence industry engineer Graham Tate, to serve Furness Mission Community; school’s science technician Lucy Thompson, to serve Grasmoor Mission Community; and former Sellafield shift manager James Tyson, to serve Whitehaven Mission Community.
The Rev Canon Peter Clement, diocesan director of vocations, said: “It is wonderfully heartening to see so many people faithfully listening to God’s call to service.
“Those entering the ministry of the distinctive diaconate will play an important role as missionaries in the world, proclaiming the Gospel to those outside church life, reaching out to the poor and marginalized, and bridging the gap between the church and the world.”
Bishop James said: “The distinctive diaconate is a hugely valued and essential form of ministry and mission and one which is crucial as we look to grow God’s Kingdom through our ecumenical God for All vision.
“I’m thrilled that we have five people who have been called to this ministry this year. They will, I’m sure, complement the wonderful work of their distinctive deacon colleagues who have been ordained in previous years. My prayers shall be with them all.”
