Rev. Canon Nancy Ford is a Deacon in the Diocese of Islands and Inlets (British Columbia) and lives in Victoria on Vancouver Island. She had the opportunity to do a 3-year training in Bowen Family systems Theory alongside her training in Pastoral Counselling education through Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education (now Canadian Association for Spiritual Care). She spent over 23 years as a Counsellor with a faith-based counselling and training agency as co-ordinator of counselling services and trainer. She is Director of Deacons and Deacon to the City out of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria.

During the last 50 years different approaches to Family Systems have developed. They speak to the regained curiosity regarding anxiety and the role it plays is determining human behaviour. Murray Bowen developed his family systems theory in the 1970s whilst working in psychiatric hospitals. He became curious about the influence family had on psychiatric patients’ behaviour and healing. He subsequently developed 8 concepts and was working on a ninth concept just before his death. was dubbed spirituality by some of his students and is a homage to his growing awareness of something other which shapes human behaviour. His work led him to think that psychosis and other major psychiatric diagnoses were manifestations of family process and that medications were not always necessary. His work was both controversial and timely. It is interesting to note that other approaches to family systems thinking developed at the same time such as Edwin Friedman and Virginia Satir.

As Deacons we find ourselves in a curious position. On one hand, we minister in the midst of marginalized and discarded people, while on the other, we serve in an institution where we are called to be prophets and truth tellers. Our vocation calls us to be and work where anxiety can be chronically high. How do we find ways to think systemically when in the midst of such intense and dramatic evidence of anxiety?  The pandemic has changed everything from our symbolic and prophetic role in liturgy to our work in the town square. How might thinking about systems theory be helpful in discerning and rediscovering our diakonia?

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Deacons Talking on the Road to Emmaus is a web-based way for deacons to walk with each other and share their stories in hope of inspiring, supporting and renewing diaconal ministries. It is inspired by the story of Cleopas and another disciple who, after recounting all that they had experienced while walking on the road to Emmaus with a stranger, recognized Jesus in their midst (Luke 24:13-32). Jesus' presence led them to release their fear and grief, to return to Jerusalem to share their experience of the resurrected Christ with the gathered community, and to renew their ministry with confidence.

Now sponsored by Pathways for Baptismal Living at Bexley Seabury Seminary and the Association for Episcopal Deacons, these free, live, interactive web conferences occur monthly on the second Tuesday at 8:30 pm ET and feature deacons sharing stories from their ministries, exploring case studies, offering peer wisdom and feedback, and exchanging mutual support. The Reverend Connie Campbell-Pearson,  Deacon & Accompanist at St. James Episcopal church, Bozman and The Venerable Roxanne Klingensmith, Archdeacon for the Diocese of Montana, join Dr. Julie Lytle, Bexley Seabury Seminary's DIrector of Distributive and Lifelong Learning, in ihosting the webinar and in dentifying deacons to share their stories.  We hope you will join us for our upcoming conversations.

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• Feb 8, 2021 - Supporting the Growing a Sheler and Social Services During a Pandemic with Barbra Geza
• Jan 11, 2021 - Church Planting with Denise LaVette
• Dec 14, 2020 - Walking with Immigrant Detainees with Bette Kauffman
• Nov 9, 2020 - Theological Education and Diaconal Formation with Maureen Hagan. 
• Oct 12, 2020 - Prisoners You Have Never Seen Before with Roxanne Klingensmith.  click here
• Sept 14, 2020 - Prayer, community, and Evangelism with Brenda Hofmann and Maureen Otwell. Go directly to last month's program by clicking here.

• May 21, 2020 - Fostering Reconciliation and Faith in the Public Policy Arena with Kathy Shannian
• May 11, 2020 - SPECIAL EDITION - Deacons' Responses to the Pandemic with Jan Grinnell and Connie Campbell-Pearson
• April 20, 2020 - SPECIAL EDITION - Deacons' Responses to the Pandemic with Jan Grinnell and Connie Campbell-Pearson
• April 16, 2020 - Dismantling Racism and the Beloved Community with Janet Tidwell
• April 6, 2020 - SPECIAL EDITION - Deacons' Responses to the Pandemic with Jan Grinnell and Connie Campbell-Pearson
• Mar 23, 2020 - - SPECIAL EDITION - Deacons' Responses to the Pandemic with Jan Grinnell and Connie Campbell-Pearson
• Dec 19, 2019 -  Responses to Oppression with Robin Hollis and Scott Deasy
• Nov 21, 2019 -  Food Scarcity with Phina Borgeson
• Oct 17, 2019 - Faith Behind and Beyond Walls with Ellen Adams

• May 5, 2019 - Rock Point's Pollinator Project with Jackie Arbuckle and Lucy Pellegrini
• Mar 21, 2019 - Ministry Along the Border (AZ) with Rodger Bobnew
• Feb 21, 2019 - Jerusalem PeaceBuilders with Jack Karn
• Nov 16, 2018 - AED and The Fund for the Diaconate with Lori Mills-Curran and Keith McCoy 
• Sept 20, 2018 - Post-General Convention with Stan Baker & Jan Grinnell

• May 18, 2018 - General Convention with Stan Baker & Jan Grinnell
• Apr 20, 2018 - The Episcopal Church and the Latino Community with Ema Rosaro-Nordalm
• Mar 15, 2018 - Dementia with Jerry Jacobs 
• Jan 18, 2018 - Tuberville Farm Coop with James Ballard and Ralph Perkins
• Dec 18, 2017 - Supporting Women Leaving Prison with Ellen Adams
• Nov 16, 2017 - The World is Our Mission - Regional Diaconal Ministry with Tom Mariconda
• Oct 19, 2017 - Refugee Resettlement with Grace Sawicki and Christine Cassels

• Apr 20, 2017 - Diaconal Ministry and Haiti with Leroy "Buck" Close
• Mar 16, 2017 - Talking About the End of Life with Lucy Pellegrini
• Feb 16, 2017 - The Hungry Soul Breakfast with Don Burr 
• Jan 19, 2017 - Foot Care Ministry with Bonnie Matthews 
• Dec 15, 2016 - Preaching with the Bible in One Hand and the Newspaper in the Other with The Rev Deacon Sudie Blanchard 
• Nov 17, 2016 - Rebirthing Campus Ministry with The Venerable Jan Grinnell  
• Oct 20, 2016 - Laundry Love with The Rev Deacon Jane Griesbach and the Rev Meredyth Ward 

• May 28, 2015 - Stan Baker Talking about General Convention
• Jan Grinnell Talking about the RI Center for Reconciliation