AED Board Nominee - 2020 Election
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Deacon Candidate #3
Janice L. Grinnell
Diocese: Rhode Island Present Employment: Self-employed business owner Current Ministries: Archdeacon; Deputy to General Convention 2015, 2018, 2021; Province 1 School for Deacons facilitator. Current Church Assignment: None – retired as active liturgically Previous Positions: St. Augustine’s – The Episcopal Center at URI, St. Paul’s Wickford, Trinity Newport, St. Michael’s Bristol Chaplain University of Rhode Island; One of founders of Center for Reconciliation; Substance abuse counselor; IT Consultant for state government software system implementations; “Deacons Walking on the Road to Emmaus” webinar coordinator. Education: MBA Management; BS Education; RI School for Deacons Prior Board Experience: AED (current Board Director); Center for Reconciliation; Trinity Village (Recovery housing and clinic for substance abuse clients including women and children); National Child Support Enforcement Association; Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement. Skill sets: Project management, business development, organizational development, experience with non-profits, Appreciative Inquiry, conference management. Question #1 How do you envision contributing to the AED Board? What are your special talents and gifts?
I can help AED become a more professional organization by using my previous experience on AED and other non-profit boards. I have experience with board governance and conference management, including the organization and management of the 2019 AED Triennial. My secular employment has provided me with great experience in general leadership skills. I have been trained in the Appreciative Inquiry organizational development model and have employed it successfully in various parishes in our Diocese where I have functioned on a Priest/Deacon interim team for 12 years. I served on four non-profit Boards and gained valuable experience in both governance and best practices. I am good at discerning and identifying strengths and weaknesses of organizations and creating positive strategies for reaching goals and objectives. Question #2 What is your vision for the future of the Association for Episcopal Deacons? My vision for AED is based on my experience of the organization throughout my 29 years of ordination. I believe we have a huge challenge in trying to create a post-pandemic organization that will be very different than what we have previously experienced. Our goal must be to provide educational, spiritual, and organizational support for deacons as their ministries adapt to our ‘new normal’. I have been privileged to serve on the board the last two years as we have started to develop a strong relationship with The Fund for the Diaconate and am interested in helping this relationship further develop. My vision for the organization is also focused on growing the organization’s membership through identifying the passions of the members for the association and the successes of the past. I do know that a vision must come from within a group and cannot be imposed by those in leadership if it is to be successful. The ultimate goal is to enable all deacons to benefit from the empowerment and formation of relationships such as I have experienced over the years in order for each deacon’s ministry to flourish and spread the good news of the love of God to a broken and hurting world. |