There’s a new face at St. John’s, the grand Episcopalian church on Market Street: Julett Butler, who has come to our area to take on the job of Protestant chaplain at Eastern Correctional, and simultaneously work at St. John’s as the deacon.

A quick word on deacons and deaconesses; this is a job description about as old as the Christian church. Female deacons are discussed in a famous letter to the Emperor Trajan from Pliny the Younger that is dated 112 CE. Naturally, those being early days in the Roman Empire for Christianity, the letter ran, “I believed it was necessary to interrogate two female slaves who were called ministrae or deacons, as to what was true, and to find out ‘per tormenta,’” which means torture.

The word itself derives from the Greek diakonos, which has several meanings, from messenger to servant, and along the way “minister.” A deacon in today’s Episcopal church is one of three orders of “ordained ministry,” the others being presbyters and bishops. Deacons today not only proclaim the gospel and direct the order of the assembly, they are seen as sacred messengers, with a suggestion of the role of the angels. In the 20th century the church revived the order of deacons with an emphasis on service and social care.

Famous deacons and deaconesses of history include Phoebe, who is mentioned in the Letter to the Romans, Francis of Assisi, and Stephen, known as the “First Martyr” of the Christian church, who was stoned to death after denouncing the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem over accusations of blasphemy, recorded in Acts 7:51-53.

Fortunately, here in New York, at least, this new deacon does not face such extremities of injustice. However, Deacon Butler is a passionate person with a specialty in assisting those with substance abuse problems.

“I have 30 years’ experience in substance abuse work,” she said. This is my passion.”

Substance abuse in 2022 now means fentanyl headlines and the numerous, though less mentioned, deaths from alcohol, and various diseases.

“The fentanyl issue is for now, and we need to stem the tide before we lose more young people.”

Butler is aware that fentanyl is now being mixed into street drugs, and she believes it is even going into street cannabis. Straddling two worlds in her ministry, Butler promises to bring fresh energy to our area, and to assist with the effort to save people from overdose deaths.

“Sometimes,” she noted, “the problem can be as simple as parents who turn a blind eye. They believe ‘it would never be my child....’ until tragedy strikes. That thinking relies on our having already put up that ‘blockade’ on accepting that our child, or our other family member, is having a problem.”

Butler comes with a master’s degree in communication studies from Emerson College, a master’s from Fordham University in pastoral care, and a certificate in administration from Marist College. She was ordained as a deacon in 2019.

She worked previously at Greenhaven prison in Dutchess County and taught business office technology at Dutchess County Community College.

Butler also added, “There’s a lot more to people than just their substance abuse. People are complicated and we need to keep that in mind.”

Butler is settling into her new role and recalled her first reaction to stepping into St. John’s church. “It is so beautiful; it was mind blowing. This is a magnificent church and everyone involved has been so welcoming and warm to me.”