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St. Mary Episcopal Church Meet Deacon Bishop |
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The Rev. Barbara E. Bishop ("Barb") is Deacon Pastoral Assistant at St. Mary's. She was born and raised in DeKalb, IL where her mother and brother still live. They are members of the First Baptist Church, where Barb grew up and first felt God's call to ordained ministry.
Barb's first year of college was at the Baptist Missionary Training School formerly located in Chicago. She then transferred to Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Christian Education. She graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois, with a Master's degree in Christian Education. Then she was called to serve as the Director of Religious Education for the Redford Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. Barb then went to work for the Chicago Baptist Association (part of the American Baptist Convention) as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Minister.
In 1967, Barb married Robert L. Bishop. Bob is retired from Kemper Insurance where he was a Data Processing Manager. He is now a Spiritual Director having graduated from the Institute for Spiritual Companionship (ISC). In 2007 he received a Masters Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University. The Bishops moved to Crystal Lake in 1971.
Barb and Bob first came to St. Mary's in December 1972, and have been active in the Parish since that time. As a layperson Barb has served St. Mary's in a variety of ministries such as Church Schoolteacher, Lay Reader, choir member, Vestry, Budget and Finance committees, chairperson of the Adult Education Committee.
In 1972, Barb went to work for the Kemper Life Insurance Companies where she worked for fifteen years. Her last position there was that of Manager of the Policyowner Service Department. In 1987, feeling a need for change, she left Kemper.
Barb's next adventure, as she sorted out what God wanted her to do, was to participate in the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. Prior to entering training for the Diaconate, she gained pastoral experience as an on-call Chaplain and Chaplain for the Nurses' Support Group at Good Shepherd Hospital. She also was a Direct Care volunteer for Hospice.
In 1989 she started St. Mary's nursing home ministries at the Fair Oaks Nursing Center and the Fountains Health Care Center (formerly Canterbury Nursing Center). Since 1995 Deacon Diane and others at St. Mary have carried on this special ministry of service. Barb was for many years the primary instructor for the youth confirmation class.
On December 7, 1991, Barb was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Frank T. Griswold, Bishop of Chicago at that time. Her current ministries at St. Mary's include the liturgical responsibilities of a Deacon -- reading the Gospel, preaching, preparing the altar and the dismissal. She also makes hospital and nursing home visitations and takes communion to the sick as time permits. She serves on the vestry and supports other parish committees as the need arises.
Dn. Barb has served on various Diocesan Committees, including the Bishop's Advisory committee on the Diaconate (a.k.a. the Deacons' Council) and the Commission on Ministry. She taught the New Testament course for Deacons' School in 1994. In January 1995, Bishop Griswold appointed her as the Administrator of the Deacons' School for Ministry and Formation Program, which is the Diocese's education and training program to prepare persons for ordination in the Order of Deacons. This was an initial three-year appointment by the Bishop, which was extended through the spring of 1999.
In the fall of 1999 Dn. Barb became a member of the Bishop's Staff at the Diocesan Center in Chicago. She serves as the Administrator for the Commission on Ordained Ministry, as well as maintaining the records of those in the process for Holy Orders (those who desiring to be ordained deacons and priests).
Dn. Barb is a member of the North American Association for the Diaconate (NAAD). She has served on its Board of Directors since 1999 and in 2005 was elected Vice-President/President elect. In June 2007 she assumed the responsibilities of President. NAAD is an organization that promotes the renewal of the diaconate, supports deacons and dioceses with deacons and engages in theological dialogue about diakonia. Barb also represents NAAD as a member of the Association of Anglican Deacons in Canada (AADC). And, she is a member of The Ecumenical Network for the Diaconate (TEND), whose members come from many denominations and represent a wide variety of ways in which deacons are servant leaders and icons of Christ's work in the church and the world.
In 2004 Dn. Barb was honored to be one of the contributors to the revised edition of Archdeacon Ormonde Plater's book, "Many Servants: An Introduction to Deacons", which details the origins of deacons in the early church, the roles and experiences of deacons in the early Episcopal Church and the diaconate today.
Dn. Barb served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the McHenry County YMCA.
Her hobbies include photography, golf, cross-stitch, and travel. She is always open to new adventures, having traveled to Israel in 1996, England, Scotland and Ireland in 2000 and then back to England and Scotland in 2004.