AED Board - 2020 Election
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Deacon Candidate #2
Ruth A. Elder
Diocese: Maryland Present Employment: Social Security Administration, Program Analyst Current Ministries: Archdeacon for Formation, Diocese of Maryland Current Church Assignment: Cathedral of the Incarnation Previous Positions: Deacon, Church of the Holy Nativity, Baltimore, MD – served as volunteer contributor and greeter at St. John’s Lutheran Food Pantry and chaplain/ activity volunteer at NW Regional Rehabilitation Center, Baltimore, MD. Education: MA in Church Ministry, Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary; BA in Sociology, University of Maryland Baltimore County. Prior Board Experience: Alumni Board Member, Ecumenical Institute 2018-2020; Episcopal Service Corp Board member, 2017 - present Skill sets: Skills in organizing, collaborating, networking and communicating with members in churches, non-profits, and other organizations. Question #1
How do you envision contributing to the AED Board? What are your special talents and gifts? I envision contributing to the AED board and membership by using my gifts of organization, encouragement, and networking to further AEDs mission. It is important that we work to increase participation and involvement in Christ's diaconal ministry from within and outside of our own order of ordained ministry. I believe that the outspoken and the soft spoken should leave our AED events and trainings feeling heard and connected. I hope to help find ways to increase provincial communication and connection among deacons. I look forward to continuing AEDs work of promoting and expanding the knowledge of a deacon’s ministry across the nation. Question #2 What is your vision for the future of the Association for Episcopal Deacons? My vision for AED is to be a diverse and vibrant organization. I believe we should have a board and a membership that reflects the leadership of our dioceses and the communities we live in, worship in and serve in. I want to us to be more connected and share resources in our regions and across the nation. If there is one thing, I believe this COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that we can use technology to connect communities of people and deacons even when we cannot get in our cars and drive to a diaconal event within our own or in a nearby diocese. I want to be a part of the team that continues the work already started to connect and share information and skills across dioceses, across cultures, and across the nation. |