Advocates for greater roles for women in the Church had hoped the synod might call for women to serve as deacons.

Roles across his long, busy career have included reverend, inspector, captain, sergeant, doctor, coach, sheriff, pastor, mayor, deacon and, notably, Adm.

“There was a time when he considered becoming a deacon in the Catholic church,” Perras said.

May 1996 Episcopal Bishop Walter C. Righter goes on trial in the church for heresy for ordaining an openly gay man as a deacon.

“If you are called by God to be an ordained elder or deacon, no church, no institution should step in that way,” Cox said.