For the first time in the diocese's 100-year history, five deacons were ordained. The five were trained through the Diocesan School which took some of them more than six years due to the redesign of the schooling that will give the deacons a much wider base of knowledge and experience before ordination.

Phyllis Flory and Randy McIntosh of Christ Cathedral; Walter Gordon, Church of the Epiphany, Concordia; and Christine Lampe, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Garden City,  all trained at the Diocesan School while Charles Kerschen of Christ Church in Kingman had completed seminary studies some years ago.

Kerschen, the head of the religion department at Hutchinson Community College, was ordained as "transitional" deacon, while the other four have a year of discernment planned for further education, experience and dialogue to determine their next step in ministry.

Gordon, a life-long Episcopalian, is a professor of agronomy and is agronomist-in-charge, North Central Kansas Agricultural Experiment Fields, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University. "After serving as junior and senior warden and lay reader for a number of years, I felt I was called to ordained ministry," Gordon said. "My goal is to do my best to serve Jesus Christ and help spread His Gospel in the Diocese of Western Kansas."

Flory's path began early in life when she announced to her Southern Baptist parents that she intended to become a preacher. However, that career path was lovingly discouraged because women are not preachers in that tradition. It was not until she came to Christ Cathedral that she knew she could finally live into her life's calling. "Ordination to the diaconate is humbling and thrilling," she said. "I am mightily amazed at how God works at getting what he intended all along. I cannot wait to see what happens next. However, while I am waiting, I want to work to establish a pre-school at Christ Cathedral and with our Medicare and under-insured populations to be sure that they get the prescriptions they need to stay healthy." She also wants to help establish a ministry to help people adhere to their prescription-drug regimens.

Lampe, who calls herself a "Kansas-bred girl," said her parents and family have always been instrumental in her life both secularly and spiritually. A teacher, her reason for her choice to become a deacon grows from one word: youth. "Our young people more than anything lead me to a closer relationship with God and my love of God calls me to be more involved in the leadership of the church," she said. "I will continue my studies and God willing will be ordained a priest."

For most of McIntosh's life, he has served people -- as an emergency medical technician, a surgical technician, and now as the assistant to the dean of Christ Cathedral. His vision for his future is "to help bring God to the people and bring the people to God, to keep an open heart and mind, and let the Holy Spirit be my guide in this new life that he has brought to me."