Good News! 2025
Let’s meet the Venerable Denise Schiavone, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Denise discusses the role of deacons, emphasizing their unique position to bridge church and world by empowering others to use their gifts. She shares her personal journey and her current role in deploying and forming deacons. Denise highlights the Deacon Engagement and Evangelism Program, aimed at sending deacons to parishes to inspire and engage congregants. The conversation covers the challenges and joys of this ministry, the importance of interfaith collaboration, and the need for courage and creativity in addressing global and local needs. Denise encourages listeners to recognize and utilize their gifts, even if small, as they can significantly impact communities.
Highlights from the Podcast
Introduction
In a world where the noise often drowns out individual voices, it’s crucial to find spaces that encourage people to recognize and utilize their gifts. The recent episode of the “Good News” podcast brought to light an insightful conversation with Archdeacon Denise Schiavone from the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Denise, along with Deacons Jon Shematek and Lauren Welch, delved into topics ranging from empowerment to the fundamental roles of deacons.
Meet Denise Schiavone
The Venerable Denise Schiavone brings a refreshing perspective to her role as Archdeacon, in which she oversees the deployment and formation of deacons, helping to reimagine ministry practices across Maryland. Despite the challenges, Denise’s focus on creativity and connection has become a beacon of hope and innovation.
The Role of Deacons: Bridging the Gap
Denise eloquently explains the deacon’s role as a bridge between the church and the world. By acting as conduits, deacons bring awareness of worldly needs to the church and help congregations offer their gifts in service. This dual vocation inspires communities to see beyond the sanctuary and into the heart of where their actions can make substantial changes.
A Program of Engagement and Evangelism
The Deacon Engagement and Evangelism Program (DEEP) that Denise spearheads is an initiative aimed at increasing both awareness and involvement of deacons within the Episcopal community. As deacons visit various parishes, new conversations and connections arise, enlightening and enriching congregations on the practical role and potential impact of deacons within their community. This approach not only empowers but also plants seeds for potential future deacons.
Listening and Learning: The Power of Outreach
Denise shared compelling stories of heartfelt encounters during her parish visits. Each visit provided an opportunity for meaningful conversations, where she encouraged congregants to recognize and harness their individual gifts. Through these interactions, Denise finds joy and fulfillment, proving that even one small expression of faith can ripple into significant change.
The Wisdom of Inclusion
Denise highlights the importance of inclusive dialogues, particularly reaching out to younger generations. These young adults, with their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, are poised to play a critical role in shaping the future. Denise encourages honesty and authenticity in these discussions, fostering a space where every voice and gift can be acknowledged and celebrated.
Conclusion: A Call to Courage
The episode concluded with Denise’s poignant wisdom and her call for courage. She encourages everyone to take bold steps in recognizing and sharing their gifts, no matter how small they may seem. In taking these leaps, even with the possibility of failure, lies the potential for growth and transformation—the foundations upon which the Episcopal Church can build a brighter future.
Final Thoughts
As Denise and the Good News team emphasize, it’s about more than just adding numbers to the deacon community—it’s about multiplying faith, hope, and love through every gesture and action. This edition of the Good News podcast epitomizes the powerful role starting brave conversations can play in our lives, helping to spark change and inspire new paths forward.
Peace and blessings to all.