AED Board - 2022 Election
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Deacon Candidate
L. Sue von Rautenkranz
Diocese: Washington Present Employment: Archdeacon & Diocesan Liturgist, Episcopal Diocese of Washington Current Ministries: International educational program and local food and refugee/immigrant ministry. Current Church Assignment: Because I serve on the bishop's staff, I travel to many churches. When not traveling I am at Washington National Cathedral Previous Positions: Formation Ministry for many congregations and dioceses (40 yrs). Diaconal formation in 2 dioceses. Camp ministry. Education: BS, some post graduate work in non-profit management, theology, and youth leadership development. Prior Board Experience: International religious and educational board, urban housing, and animal welfare. Skill sets: Non-profit, management, event development and management. Ministry at all levels - church-wide, provincial, diocesan, and parish. Liturgical planning and development. Question #1
How do you envision contributing to the AED Board? What are your special talents and gifts? I have served The Episcopal Church for 44 years and at various levels of engagement and ministry positions. Primarily, I have served parishes and dioceses in formation ministries – children, youth, and adult formation at the congregational, judicatory, and wider church levels. I have planned and overseen programs and events with attendance between 10-1,500 persons and have managed the teams who are responsible for those events. This has included liturgical development, planning and implementation for small intimate groups and church-wide events. In diaconal ministry, I have served in four dioceses over 30 years and have been responsible for the discernment, formation, and supervision of deacons. In this last position we have grown the diaconate from 3 deacons to 40 and now have a bilingual formation program. Question #2 What is your vision for the future of the Association for Episcopal Deacons? I attended my first NAAD [AED's initial name] event in 1981 at the recommendation of my spiritual director. What I learned there is still so important – it isn’t about my ministry, but the ministry I encourage and empower in others. Yet, to do this, we need healthy and well-equipped deacons. During my formation and early years as a deacon I encountered many deacons who were weary, angry, and seemed unhappy as deacons. One of my early bishops referred to the deacon community as whinners. I found that very sad. It has been my desire and hope to develop and encourage those who are passionate about servant ministry to seek diaconal orders and I would want to bring that hope, joy, and passion to the ministry of AED. We do this by focusing on those who are passionate about their ministry, giving voice to those who can share that excitement, and seeking others to join us. We also need to try new ways of gathering for community and learning. Not doing it the way it has always been done, just because we’ve done that before. There is so much amazing ministry happening and so much more need and concern in our world, we don’t have time to waste and we need to lift up those who meet those needs, concerns, and hopes. |