Faith Behind Bars and Beyond is a network of ECCT dealing with all aspects of the criminal justice system. Its mission is "to answer God's call to minister to God's people in prison and to those affected by incarceration." The group is working to respond to God's call in four ways:

• By building awareness of the needs of those in prison and their families.
• By highlighting the efforts of people of faith "inside" and "outside" prison walls.
• By encouraging communication, mutual support, and education for all those engaged in prison ministry.
• By inspiring people of faith to join in this life-changing work.

Although connected and funded by ECCT our membership and our events are open to all, regardless of a person’s religious affiliation. 

Ellen  has been a deacon in ECCT for 20 years.  She is a retired elementary school teacher who was active in the Learn and Serve movement which teaches the curriculum by doing community service. She is assigned to the City of New London where she divides her time between New Life Ministry of SECT, a re-entry for women coming out of prison; St. Francis House, an intentional Christian community which is a place of prayer, a house of hospitality and a center for peace and justice; and St. James Episcopal Church, where she is concentrates on racial healing, justice and reconciliation and asset building.  

Members of the Faith Behond Bars and Beyond steering committee will join deacon Ellen in talking about their work.  

Register Now! 

Deacons Talking on the Road to Emmaus is a web based way for deacons to walk with each other and share 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, return to Jerusalem to share their experience of the resurrected Christ with the gathered community, and renew their ministry with confidence.

Sponsored by the New England Deacons Network and the Episcopal Province of New England (Province I), these free, live, interactive web conferences will occur monthly on the third Thursday, 7:00 -8:00 pm and feature deacons sharing stories from their ministries, exploring case studies, offering peer wisdom and feedback, and exchanging mutual support. We hope you will join us for our upcoming conversations. 

• Nov 14   Green Table, Just Table: Congregations Transforming the Food with Phina Borgeson
• Dec 19   Voices from the Margin: A Jesus Movement Response to Oppression with Robin 
                  Hollis and Scott Deasy
• Jan 16    Advocacy and Hospitality for Refugees, Immigrants and Asylum Seekers with Johanna
                Young, Allison Duvall
• Feb 20   TBD                       
• Mar 19   TBD                       
• Apr 16    Anti-racism – Yesterday, Beloved Community – Today: A new approach to dismantling
                 racism with Janet Tidwell                                     
• May 21   Fostering Reconciliation and Faith in the Public Policy Arena with Kathy Shannian

Additionally, the Province I website contains a special section devoted to diaconal ministry that includes links to previous Deacons Talking web conferences.  If you miss our live conversations, you can find recordings of them here. (NOTE: Newer programs will be posted asap. Thank you for your patience.)

• May 5, 2019 - Deacons Talking About Rock Point's Pollinator Project with Jackie Arbuckle and Lucy Pellegrini
• Mar 21, 2019 - Deacons Talking About Ministry Along the Border (AZ) with Rodger Bobnew
• Feb 21, 2019 - Deacons Talking About Jerusalem PeaceBuilders with Jack Karn
• Nov 16, 2018 - Deacons Talking About AED and The Fund for the Diaconate with Lori Mills-Curran and Keith McCoy 
• Sept 20, 2018 - Deacons Talking Post-General Convention with Stan Baker & Jan Grinnell
• May 18, 2018 - Deacons Talking about General Convention with Stan Baker & Jan Grinnell
• Apr 20, 2018 - The Episcopal Church and the Latino Community with Ema Rosaro-Nordalm
• Mar 15, 2018 - Deacons Talking about Dementia with Jerry Jacobs 
• Feb 18, 2018  Sorry, no recording available
• 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
  

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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 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, return to Jerusalem to share their experience of the resurrected Christ with the gathered community, and renew their ministry with confidence.

Sponsored by the New England Deacons Network and the Episcopal Province of New England (Province I), these free, live, interactive web conferences will occur monthly on the third Thursday, 7:00 -8:15 pm and feature deacons sharing stories from their ministries, exploring case studies, offering peer wisdom and feedback, and exchanging mutual support.