By the Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop of Central Florida

The day of the Pulse nightclub shooting five years ago, I was traveling home to Orlando from Louisville. As I waited in the airport, CNN and all the other news services were blowing up. And before long, my phone was blowing up too. Deacon Nancy Oliver called me early on to make sure I knew what was happening. She was outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center, where a number of the victims who were still alive were brought. Many of them couldn’t even get in.

It was hot, and these were her texted words: “I need to get water to these people.” Her deep concern in the moment was not who was hurt or what had happened or where they were when it took place but simply being able to serve, to reach out to those most in need.

This month, like many of us across the world and especially here in Orlando, I am recalling memories like this one of Deacon Nancy’s care for those impacted by the Pulse nightclub tragedy. But as we continue to honor the lives of those who died and comfort those left behind, I want to also consider a few lessons I learned in that season of loss.

1. True ministry reaches out to those most in need. As I highlight these lessons, I think it fitting to begin with one whom we honor: Ephrem of Edessa, a deacon in fourth-century Syria. Ephrem was unique in his selfless ministry to the hurting, yet at great cost to himself. He lived in a time of great famine, but even while hiding out for fear of being put to death for his faith, he found ways to serve others.

In that major famine, Ephrem distributed food and money to the poor and even organized a kind of ambulance service for the sick. In his culture, people would have assumed that the sick had lost favor with the gods and were thus deserving of nothing. Ephrem’s actions stood against that lie and, in fact, for the gospel itself. Why? True gospel ministry reaches out to those in need.

2. True ministry goes the extra mile. I saw this characteristic exemplified in the ministry of Deacon Michael Matheny in the aftermath of the Pulse shootings, who in the midst of many churches in the downtown area that turned away similar opportunities, encountered a family in the courtyard of our cathedral who wanted a funeral for their Christian son who had been killed at Pulse.

Through Michael’s wonderful wise tenderheartedness, he worked out all the arrangements, gave me a call, and we met with the family. More than anyone else, Michael reached out to them again and again with true compassion and tender care.

When Ephrem and Nancy left their places of safety to take provisions and other services to those most in need, they were going the extra mile. And that’s what Michael did as he served in the loving, unifying spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. True ministry invites the kingdom of God. I’ve rarely participated in a service more emotionally fraught than the Cathedral service for the ones who died at Pulse. And in the height of that emotion, at the distribution of Communion, a poised, gentle servant named Susan Shannon (whose own funeral we just held earlier this month) moved back and forth, helping people feel comfortable with receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion whether they knew our Episcopalian traditions or not. In her own wise and gracious way, she helped people experience the real presence of the Father. In a day of great division and separation, Susan’s welcoming calm brought the kingdom near, just as Michael’s extended care brought the kingdom near, just as Nancy’s selfless outreach brought the kingdom near.

All three aspects of true ministry come from a basic theological conviction that no matter who you are, God is at work in you. Even if I don’t agree with you. Even if I think you’re wrong. Even if I think you’re in sin. Despite all these “ifs,” God is at work because his commitment, his plan is to gather all things into the life of his Son. Therefore, we live in service as a foretaste of that kingdom commitment. And even in the prayer that we say every time we gather, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Whenever we reach out in ministry, we are saying, “OK, God. Let this be a chance where that happens: in the life of someone who does not know you, in the life of someone who is in rebellion against you or even in the life of a person who has wounded me – still, I reach out, because I’m praying for the kingdom of God to come here.”

This type of ministry, true ministry, is unbelievably difficult. It is selfless activity because we must set aside our opinions, our prejudices, our own woundedness, to reach out and care for someone with whom we may be in profound, even hostile, disagreement.

But that was Ephrem. That’s really at the heart of what it means to be a deacon and to be in ministry of any kind. I thank God for Ephrem and for the modern-day servants who have taught me so much. I thank God for that witness and face again in my own life the challenge and the call to pay attention to the margins.

The pandemic has brought food insecurity into our lives in unprecedented ways, but the true famine in our land is one of unity. In this time of famine, may God continue to raise up people with a different vision: of gathering all people into the life of Christ.

Bishop Greg Brewer's course Principles of Homiletics will be offered at Nashotah House remotely for visiting students. Registration deadline is August 26, 2021, and Residential Week is November 8-12, 2021. The course is an introduction to the craft of sermon preparation and delivery. The significance of preaching, the importance of exegetical research, and the value of image, story, and metaphor in proclaiming the Gospel are emphasized. Students do a number of practical exercises to develop the different skills necessary for good preaching. New students, you’re invited to start the application process here. Current students may register in Populi. Please note tuition will not be refunded after September 9, 2021.

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About the Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer

The Diocese of Central Florida celebrated the consecration of the Rev. Gregory O. Brewer as the fourth bishop of Central Florida, March 24, 2012. Before being called to Central Florida, Bishop Brewer served as rector at Calvary-St. George’s Church, a 500-member, multi- cultural and multiracial, “program-size” parish with landmarked historic buildings in downtown Manhattan.

Before serving there, Bishop Brewer was rector of the Church of the Good Samaritan, Paoli, Pennsylvania, which had 1,800 members. Good Samaritan is a 150-year-old corporate-size church in an affluent suburban area known as the “Main Line,” but the church’s commitment to Biblical orthodoxy and discipleship, drew congregants from a large geographic area.

Bishop Brewer is married to the former Laura Lee Williams of Orlando. Children are Charles, James, Todd, Lee, and Mark.

He received his B.A. from Lynchburg College, where he received the Hugh M. Burleigh Award for Outstanding Ministerial Student, 1973. He received his M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1976. He also is close to completing his doctorate at Fuller Theological Seminary and Trinity School for Ministry.

He was ordained a deacon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lynchburg, VA, with Bishop Henry Marmion presiding. He was ordained priest at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Winter Park, with Bishop William Folwell presiding.

He has published work in The Anglican Digest, with articles appearing regularly from 1985-2007. Other publications include Bible Reading Fellowship: Journey Through the Word Series.

Bishop Brewer is an Eagle Scout who also says he loves the beach, sailing, hospitality, friendship, cooking, and having people over for dinner.

He enjoys theater, British mystery shows, reading, classical and jazz music, contemporary Christian worship, travel, and current events. Endlessly curious, he also enjoys learning about other cultures and is committed to being a lifelong learner.

Visit the Bishop's Blog and the DCF YouTube Channel to hear more from Bishop Brewer.

This post is an adaptation of Bishop Brewer’s sermon for June 10, 2021, in the Diocesan Chapel, Orlando.