On the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord, Doug Bleyle was ordained as the newest Deacon in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. The Cathedral Church of St. John was filled with incense, song and laughter as Bishop Vono placed his hands on Doug and read the sacred words:
"Therefore, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, give your Holy Spirit to Douglas; fill him with grace and power, and make him a deacon in your Church."
The evening was festive and joyful. God of then prophets, bless the prophets' heirs was sung as the processional. Doug was presented by members of Holy Cross Edgewood, friends and family including Canon Raymond Raney, Canon Ads Lovekin, Rev. Jennifer Phillips, Rev. Donald K. Bleyle, Jennifer Bleyle, Mary Ann Bleyle, Ella Notanabah-Jones, Vic Rizzo and Jane Vickers.
Dean Goodman beautifully recited the Litany for Ordination, followed by Doug's parents reading the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:1-6, 9) and New Testament (Ephesians 3:1-12).
With her spiritual presence, Rev. Deacon Judith Jenkins read the Gospel of the Ephiphany (Matthew 2:1-12) and Canon Richard Valantasis in his homily encouraged Doug to challenge society on behalf of the oppressed. Doug seemed visibly moved as Canon Richard spoke of the role of the Deacon: challenging, hard, fruitful, joyous, and blessed! All that were in attendance were moved by Canon Valantasis' sermon as he reminded all that Deacons are called to serve. (If you run into Canon Richard, ask him about his haircut in St. Louis). I smiled as we sang my favorite hymn: Come, thou font of every blessing.
The Cathedral Choir is one of the best in the Southwest (I would argue the nation) and they lived up to their vocational calling. A beautiful sight was seen in the smile of Doug's wife Jennifer and a beautiful voice was heard in Doug's infant son Paxton. Doug received a Lakota blessing from Mr. Howard Bad Hand.
Bishop Vono remarked to the assembled faithful that this was his first diaconal ordination since becoming Bishop of the Rio Grande. The evening concluded with a festive reception and all departed into the cold night looking for that star and hopeful for the future of the Diocese.
Doug will now be assigned to the Cathedral Church of St. John to serve his curacy as a Deacon. He will also begin his ministry as Coordinator of Native American Ministries for the Diocese. We look forward to Doug sharing in his talents and gifts with the Diocese. Additionally, we anticipate a long term relationship between the Diocese and the Navajoland Diocese. Doug, great job and we are blessed by your ministry.
Check back for pictures of the ordination.
I have included a brief Bio on Doug.
Douglas K. Bleyle is a talented and creative teacher, writer, and spiritual director. Raised as a United Methodist with a long family history of Methodist ministers, Bleyle lived most of his life in rural parishes in Colorado and came to understand the challenges and gifts of rural ministry with its poverty, rich sense of community, and hard work. A long-time participant in Lakota ceremonial practices, Bleyle learned Native American contemplative practices and became fascinated with the way those practices resonated with early Christian liturgical and ascetic traditions.
Trained as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Bleyle developed a unique and comprehensive program for working with children with learning disabilities (autism, ADD/ADHD, fragile x, Asperbergers Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome) and their wider social networks including family, teachers, and friends. His program created a comprehensive world in which children with a disability, their families, and wider social networks learned to live whole and complete lives, while also addressing the learning and living needs of the children. Bleyle's gift is to create the worlds that promote well-being and a capacity to flourish, especially among challenged social groups.
Bleyle holds a degree from Metropolitan State College in Denver in anthropology and the history of the American West with a focus on Native American history. He also holds an M.Div. from Iliff School of Theology and a Th.M. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he pursued the academic study of asceticism and contemplative practices. His teaching and research focuses on the contemplative practices in various religious systems of Late Antiquity, Eastern Christianity, and Methodist studies.
Bleyle has a special vocation to minister to Native American peoples and to assist Native American Christians to bridge native and adopted traditions. He is the co-author of "The Gospels and Christian Life in History and Practice" and currently is co-author on "Centuries of Contemplation" a book project with the Associates of the ICL.
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