Di Nicolios

Dianne Dialecti "Di" Nicolios (born 1947[1][2]) is a retired Australian Anglican priest. She was the first woman appointed Archdeacon for Women's Ministries in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. She held that position from January 1994 to May 2002. She was also one of the first group of 14 women to be ordained a deacon in 1989 in the Sydney diocese.[3]

The Venerable

Di Nicolios
Born
Dianne Dialecti Nicolios

1947
NationalityAustralian
ReligionChristian
ChurchAnglican Church of Australia
OrdainedDeacon 1989, priest 2002
Offices held
Archdeacon for Women's Ministries, Anglican Diocese of Sydney

Priest-in-Charge, St John's Anglican Church, Diamond Creek parish, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

Archdeacon of The Yarra, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

In 2002, Nicolios resigned as archdeacon to become an ordained priest in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and rector of St John's parish in Diamond Creek, Melbourne.[1][4][5] She later became Archdeacon of The Yarra,[6][7] then an assistant priest in the parish of Kew and returned to Sydney as an assistant at Christ Church Lavender Bay.[2]

Life and ministry

At the October 1993 synod of the Sydney Anglican diocese, Archbishop Harry Goodhew announced Nicolios' appointment, "With a view to advancing the ministry of women in the Diocese, I have appointed the Reverend Dianne Nicolios as an Archdeacon with special responsibilities for women's ministry. She has an extensive job description which includes the support and encouragement of women both ordained and non-ordained." Her name was sometimes recorded as Archdeacon D.D. Nicolios.[4] Her title within the Anglican church was Venerable Di Nicolios. During her time as archdeacon, Nicolios developed a strategy for ministry by women, both lay and ordained and organised conferences for women in ministry.[8][9]

At the same synod, Nicolios was elected to the board of management of the Department of Evangelism and as a diocesan representative on General Synod. During the Sydney period she was a member of the Olympic Games Taskforce and helped establish Anglican Sports Ministries, was a member of the Minute Reading Committee, the Synod Committee on Clergy Tenure, the Stipends and Allowances Committee, the Synod Standing Committee,[10][11][12] and the Board of Management of the Department of Evangelism.[10][11][12] She was an Associate Evangelist, Department of Evangelism.[13] As chair of Anglican Deaconess Institution, she established scholarships for women to open up new areas of ministry.[14]

In his presidential address to the October 1994 synod, Archbishop Goodhew stated, "I have a special concern for the ministries exercised by women in our diocese. Last October I announced the appointment of the Reverend Dianne Nicolios as an Archdeacon with special responsibilities for women’s ministry. Dianne took up her appointment in January this year. She has become a valued member my staff. Her wisdom, good humour and courage have come to be appreciated by all of us who work with her ... The gifts and talents of women and men must be harnessed fully if we are to achieve that measure of fullness which God wills for us. The work of Archdeacon Nicolios is important in giving recognition to the role of women in ministry in the diocese, and in advancing their opportunities for service."[15]

The archbishop asked Nicolios to report to him on the ministry of women and the report was released to the standing committee in 1996. The report included results of a survey on women's ministry of clergy and church members. Nicolios found two results significant: majority support amongst clergy for women to be assistant ministers including as teachers, preachers and service leaders; and from women in ministry, the desire for acknowledgement and valuing of their ministries.[16][17] Some recommendations were “That a review of diocesan policies be made by Archdeacon Nicolios in consultation with the Archbishop ......” “That a Women’s Advisory Council be established by the Archbishop .....” “That the issues raised in this report ..... be promoted for discussion within the Diocese ...”[18] Nicolios organised the 1998 Conference on Women's Ministry, proposed by the Archbishop to "encourage and strengthen the ministries of women in our churches". Two papers for and against the ordination of women as priests were discussed at that conference. Nicolios gave an overview of part time and voluntary work conducted by women in the diocese and other women ministers presented on their work with women.[19][14]

In 2002, Nicolios resigned and became rector of St John's in Diamond Creek, Melbourne. The Sydney diocese does not ordain women as priests and the resignation of Nicolios and her subsequent ordination in Melbourne was reportedly a surprise to the Sydney Anglicans including the new archbishop, the Most Revd Peter Jensen, as she had not been an activist for women's ordination.[20][1][21] However Nicolios and the archbishop have said that she left the Sydney Anglican diocese on good terms.[21][22]

In 2009 after the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Nicolios managed local bushfire relief, counselling and support through St John's.[23][24]

In April 2019, the 30th anniversary celebration of women's ordination into the diaconate was held at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney. Most of the women ordained as deacons in 1989 attended, including Nicolios who gave the main address, preaching on 2 Timothy 4:1-8.[25][3][26]

Positions held
  • Late 1970s: Secondary school teacher of English and Greek and member, Board of Senior School Studies[27][28][29]
  • 1980s: Student, Moore Theological College obtaining a Bachelor of Theology[29][30]
  • 1983-1989: Parish sister, Annandale[31][30]
  • 1989: Ordained as deacon in Sydney Anglican diocese[2][3]
  • 1989-1991: Assistant minister, St Aidan's Annandale[30]
  • 1992-1993: Chaplain, Deaconess House[27][30]
  • 1998-2002: President, Australian Anglican Diaconal Association[30]
  • 1994–2002: Archdeacon for Women's Ministries, Anglican Diocese of Sydney
  • 24 July 2002: Ordained priest at Holy Trinity, Doncaster, by Archbishop Peter Watson.[32]
  • 2002–2003: Priest-in-charge of St John's Anglican church, Diamond Creek parish, Victoria, appointed effective 26 July 2002.[33][34][2]
  • 2003-2013: Incumbent, Parish of St John's Diamond Creek with St Katherine's St Helena and St Michael's Yarrambat[2]
  • 2004-2010: Examining Chaplain, Archbishop of Melbourne[35][2]
  • 2013-2015: Permission to Officiate, Diocese of Melbourne[2]
  • 2003 (and 2007?): National chaplain, GFS Australia (formerly Girls Friendly Society).[36][30]
  • 2006-2010: Area Dean, Yarra/Plenty[2][35]
  • 2007: Member of the E-team, a group of current and former Sydney Anglican ministers formed to assist church leaders in mission and outreach.[37]
  • 2010-2013: Archdeacon of The Yarra.[7][2][35]
  • 2013–2015: Assistant Priest/Seniors' Minister, Parish of Kew, North Balwyn/St Hilary's and St Silas Anglican churches in Kew, Victoria.[38][39][2]
  • 2015: Retired and returned to Sydney.[40]
  • 2018–2019: A member of the Professional Standards Review Board for Kooyoora Ltd and Diocese of Melbourne.[41]
  • 2017-: Assistant Minister, Christ Church Lavender Bay, Sydney.[42][2]

References
  1. "Anglican women's leader gives up on Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. "Clergy – Anglican Church of Australia Directory". Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  3. "Celebrating History in the Making". Anglican deaconess ministries. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. First Ordinary Session of the 43rd Synod of the Diocese of Sydney: October 1993, Summary of Proceedings, p14 https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/synod/summary1993.pdf?doc_id=NTU0Mg==
  5. Report of Standing Committee & Other Reports & Papers, 2002 Report of the Standing Committee . https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/synod/Synod2002/stancom02.pdf?doc_id=NDU2Mg==
  6. Anglican Diocese of Melbourne Prayer Diary, January 2013, p3 https://fdocuments.in/document/anglican-diocese-of-melbourne-prayer-diary-anglican-diocese-of-melbourne-prayer.html?page=3
  7. "The Yarra". 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  8. Butler, Amy; Jensen, Peter; Halcrow, Jeremy; Burke, Greg; Davies, Glenn; Downey, Peter. "Southern Cross April 2002". Anglican Diocese of Sydney. JSTOR community.32042633. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. King, Sarie; Haines Thomas, Michelle. "Southern Cross June 1997". Anglican Diocese of Sydney. JSTOR community.32042710. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Anglican Church of Australia Diocese of Sydney 3rd Session of the 45th Synod Business Paper: Saturday 3 November 2001, https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/synod/bp4_01.pdf?doc_id=NTUyNg==
  11. Proceedings of the 1997 Ordinary Session of the 44th Synod, https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/1997%20Synod%20Proceedings%20%282nd%20Session%20of%20the%2044th%20Synod%29.pdf?doc_id=NDUxNTg=
  12. "6/01 Stipends, Allowances and Benefits (A report from the Standing Committee)", Synod Proceedings for 2002 https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/2002%20StipendsAllowancesAndBenefitsFor2003.Report.pdf?doc_id=NDU2MjY=
  13. Cockren, Paul; Walker, Peter; Roots, Barry; Barnett, Sarah. "Southern Cross May 1998". Anglican Diocese of Sydney. JSTOR community.32042738. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. Halcrow, Jeremy; Liggins, Stephen; Rodgers, Margaret; Mayne, Tom. "Southern Cross June 1998". Anglican Diocese of Sydney. JSTOR community.32042711. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. Second Ordinary Session of the 43rd Synod of the Diocese of Sydney: October 1994 Summary of Proceedings. https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/synod/summary.pdf?doc_id=NTEwOQ==
  16. Haines, Michelle; Thomas, Jane. "Southern Cross September 1996". Anglican Diocese of Sydney. JSTOR community.32042779. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. Pitt, Helen (5 September 1996). "Clergy join push for ordination of women". Sydney Morning Herald. ProQuest 363323541.
  18. Year Book of the Diocese of Sydney, Annual Report of the Standing Committee. https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/synod/stancom1996.pdf?doc_id=NTUyNw==
  19. 16/97 Conference on Women’s Ministry (1998), 16/97 Conference on Women's Ministry (A report from the Standing Committee). https://www.sds.asn.au/sites/default/files/reports/W/WomensMinistry.ConferenceOn%20%2816.97%29%20%281998%29.pdf?doc_id=NDQ0MQ==
  20. McGillion, Chris. "The Chosen Ones: The Politics of Salvation in the Anglican Church - PDF Free Download". epdf.pub. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  21. Cameron, Marcia Helen. Phenomenal Sydney : Anglicans in a time of change, 1945-2013. p. 202. ISBN 978-1-4982-8932-0. OCLC 965135962.
  22. Butler, Amy; Halcrow, Jeremy. "Southern Cross May 2002". Anglican Diocese of Sydney. JSTOR community.32042742. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. "Burnt out, but battling on". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  24. "Flood of prayer to drench fires". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  25. "Praise God for the ministry of women". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  26. "30 up for female deacons". Southern Cross. 25 (4). May 2019.
  27. College, Moore. "Societas 1994". Moore Theological College. JSTOR community.32060019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  28. N.S.W. Teachers' Federation and New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Sydney: The Federation, 1919. Web. 9 March 2022 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-721367614
  29. College, Moore. "Societas 1981". Moore Theological College. JSTOR community.32060055. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  30. The Australian Anglican Directory 2009. Angela Grutzner.
  31. Record, Australian Church. "1984-03-19 The Australian Church Record 1984". JSTOR community.32084710. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  32. Rule, Beryl (July 2002). "Sydney deacon priested". The Melbourne Anglican: 3.
  33. "Australian Christian Church Histories - Diamond Creek, VIC - St John's Anglican". www.churchhistories.net.au. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  34. "Clergy Moves". The Melbourne Anglican: 2. May 2002.
  35. The Australian Anglican Directory. Publishing Solutions. 2015.
  36. "Dream, Create, Ignite" conference program, GFS Australia 2007 . https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/42776069/h-ig-h-l-ig-h-t-s-f-r-o-m-t-h-e-p-r-o-g-r-a-m-gfs-australia-limited
  37. "Introducing the E-Team". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  38. Annual report 2014 St Hilary's https://sthils.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2014-AnnualReport.pdf
  39. St Hilary's Annual Report, 2013 https://sthils.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AnnualReport2013.pdf
  40. GFS Australia Inc 23rd National Council Minutes https://gfsaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/National-Council-Minutes-January-2015.pdf
  41. Annual Report 2019, Kooyoora https://kooyoora.org.au/app/uploads/2020/05/Kooyoora-2019-Annual-Report_Final.pdf
  42. The Parish Magazine, Epping Anglicans https://docplayer.net/132487171-The-parish-magazine-epping-anglicans.html
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