Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

Carolyn Dicer, longtime bishop's deputy for program, was "in shock" over a skit celebrating her ministry that was delivered to banquet-goers Friday, Feb. 6, at diocesan convention in Johnson City.

"Everything I've tried to do, I always ended up being the one who was blessed," she said in thanks.

The Rev. Buckley Robbins, rector at St. Francis of Assisi, Ooltewah, and the Rev. Frank Cooper, rector at St. John, Johnson City, launched the program, developing "agenda items" for the "meeting."

Lynn Schmissrauter, St. Timothy, Signal Mountain, planned the event with Robbins. She took charge of recording the "agenda" on an aluminum easel. The preprinted first page identified it in bullet points as "Carolyn's well-worn easel. Been everywhere in the diocese. Seen it all. Heard it all. I have great stories to tell."

Schmissrauter's first entry on a new page was "Christian Ed/Formation," as Cooper described Dicer's impact on that ministry in the diocese while others lined up on the dais.

Ann Holtz, St. James, Knoxville, talked about launching the Clergy in Transition program, now called "Fresh Start," and Dicer was noticeably moved to see the hands of most clergy at the banquet go up when a call went out to all those who had been through the program. "Fresh Start" is now international in scope.

Marita Pratt, St. Clare, LaFollette, told of Dicer's development of the diocesan Appalachian Ministries - from starting a program to gather school supplies for Campbell County children several years ago to forming, that very day, a scholarship program to send the children to summer camp at Grace Point.

The Rev. Canon Chris Chase, chaplain, UT-Knoxville, talked of the addition of educational workshops to convention; the Rev. John Talbird, rector at Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, described the beginnings of the Mission Strategy Task Force; Ann Lamb, Nativity, Ft. Oglethorpe, told of the Planned Giving ministry program's development and the start of the Legacy Society; Canon Alice Clayton talked about Dicer's vestry consultations that were Clayton's introduction to diocesan ministry; and Bishop vonRosenberg offered his thanks and a bear hug.

Dicer was presented with a memory book containing best wishes from people around the Episcopal Church and a cap noting her role as midwife to "Fresh Start." In addition, Schmissrauter and Holtz, consultants who have long known Dicer, declared her the "abbess of a secret society: Our Ladies of Perpetual Consultation" - a title Cooper created - and gave her a T-shirt embroidered with its initials: OLPC.

Dicer was joined on the dais by her spouse and ministry partner of 40 years, Gary Dicer, and she was visibly touched by the presentation.

"How do I say thank you?" she said later. "It's 25-30 years ago that I started training for lay ministry at Ascension. It's been a privilege to do that ministry in the diocese and meet so many people. The reason it worked was all the others involved."

The Dicers plan to relocate near family in Greenville, S.C.

Though Carolyn Dicer's staff position will not be filled in the immediate future because of diocesan budget constraints, individuals have come forward to take charge of ministries she's spearheaded over the years.