Additional Discernment Resources

There are several resources available to help you in your discernment process:

PEER NETWORKS

Clergy of Color Caucus: The Clergy of Color Caucus of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina exists to provide fellowship and mutual support for clergy of color and those who serve communities of color in our diocese.

Convocation Clericus Gatherings: Many of our convocations organize regular clericus meetings for regional clergy. To learn more about the gatherings in your area, contact your local dean.

Deacons of the Diocese of North Carolina: The deacons throughout the Diocese of North Carolina are always ready to help those discerning a call. To be in touch with a deacon in your area, contact Archdeacon Jan Lamb.

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Contact

Elizabeth Dawkins

Executive Assistant to the Bishop

919-600-5301

Patricia Sarazen

Executive Assistant to the Assistant Bishop

919-600-5304

Elizabeth Dawkins

Executive Assistant to the Bishop
919-600-5301 |

A native North Carolinian, Elizabeth Dawkins was born in Raleigh and is a life-long Episcopalian. Prior to joining the diocesan staff as executive assistant to the Bishop Diocesan, she enjoyed 15 years on staff at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh.

She enjoys spending time with family, gardening, and joining friends to see any play at the DPAC. Her addiction to modern fiction and classic literature, with a particular weakness for John Donne, is just the lingering after effect of having received an MA in English Languages and Literature from NCSU.

Patricia Sarazen

Executive Assistant to the Assistant Bishop
919-600-5304 |

A cradle Episcopalian, Sarazen served for many years in the Dioceses of Massachusetts, Northern Indiana and, most recently, North Carolina. For the past two years, she worked as the administrative assistant for spiritual growth and adult formation at Christ Church, Charlotte. There she was involved in creating and supporting transformative programming including Christian Essentials, Sacred Ground, The Good Book Beginning to End, and The Space Between us, to name a few.

As a graduate of Duke University, Sarazen is an avid Blue Devils fan and looks forward to March Madness and cheering on the team. Her other interests include music, reading, travel and spending time with her family. One of her favorite things is going to church, especially visiting different churches and experiencing the Eucharist in unique and inviting ways.

Clergy Calendar

Wednesday, 3/29 at 9:00 AM

Lenten Clergy Quiet Day & Renewal of Vows

Thursday, 4/6 at 10:00 AM

EpiscopalStart

Thursday, 5/4 at 10:00 AM

EpiscopalStart

Thursday, 6/1 at 10:00 AM

EpiscopalStart

Thursday, 7/6 at 10:00 AM

EpiscopalStart

Lenten Clergy Quiet Day & Renewal of Vows

Wednesday, March 29, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

REGISTER.

The program, titled "Receivers and Transmitters," will be facilitated by the Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor.

In her book, The Spiritual Life, Evelyn Underhill wrote, “The Church is in the world to save the world. It is a tool of God for that purpose. We are transmitters as well as receivers.”

Our time together will focus on the two movements of receiving and transmitting. This
is important not only because of the consequences of COVID-19 but also because for
many people the Church is becoming more and more irrelevant. While there are many
useful evangelism methods, we can’t give away what we do not have. Without a deep
connection to the source, we risk being a clanging gong. Karl Rahner reminds us that
“The Christian of the future will be a mystic or he [she, they] will not exist at all.” In our
time together, we will explore why deepening our connection to God is important
and how we can increase our openness to this holy life.

As for transmission, in a time of COVID-19 and of increasing secularism, how can we, as clergy, be transmitters of the Good News of the Gospel by being living examples?
What does it mean to focus on the priestly promise to “nourish Christ’s people from the riches of God’s grace?” If our callings are to go deep, to go out, to go together, how
can we insure that we prioritize the inward journey as much as the outward or
communal, and what would that look like? After all, we are preparing for Holy Week:
We must let somethings die and open up to resurrection to be equipped to spread
the Good News into the world.

The format will be presentation, time for reflection, and plenary.

Taylor is the sixth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and recently was a Visiting Bishop in the Diocese of Virginia. He earned an M.Div. from the School of Theology at the University of the South and a Ph.D. in literature and theology from Emory University. Previously, he served as the rector of St. Gregory the Great in Athens, Georgia. Taylor has published three books: To Dream as God Dreams: Sermons of Community, Conversion and Hope; From Anger To Zion: An Alphabet of Faith, and most recently Are You Persuaded? In and Out of being a Bishop. He is happily married to Jo Taylor and deeply grateful for his two children, Arthur and Marie. Jo and Porter live in Asheville.

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EpiscopalStart

Thursday, April 6, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Contact Canon Catherine Massey with questions.

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EpiscopalStart

Thursday, May 4, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Contact Canon Catherine Massey with questions.

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EpiscopalStart

Thursday, June 1, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Contact Canon Catherine Massey with questions.

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EpiscopalStart

Thursday, July 6, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Contact Canon Catherine Massey with questions.

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