Empowering Others and Leadership

Navigating Faith and Service

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon, Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Septina Florimonte to discuss her journey of faith, service, and leadership. From her work as a nurse and community advocate to her experiences with the United Nations and the Episcopal Church, Septina shares how caring for others and navigating family challenges deepened her faith and shaped her calling to serve. A thoughtful conversation on resilience, prayer, and living a life rooted in human dignity and love.

Intentional Love

In Season 3, Episode 6 of Seekin' Deacon, Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Bishop Michael Curry for a thoughtful conversation on love as a conscious and disciplined way of life. Together, they explore how intentional love shapes discipleship, the challenges of navigating moral responsibility within society, and the importance of justice, compassion, and humility in a complex world. Bishop Curry reflects on peacemaking, global responsibility, and how small acts of love can create meaningful change. The episode concludes with a blessing and encouragement to continue seeking where the Spirit leads.

God's Dream

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon, Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Bishop Michael Curry to reflect on the experiences that shaped his calling and commitment to love and justice. From transformative college influences to discerning his vocation, Bishop Curry shares wisdom on living out faith in a way that helps move the world closer to God's dream. A thoughtful conversation about calling, courage, and choosing love in challenging times

Connection Through Divine Love

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon, Rev. Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Bishop Michael Curry for a reflective conversation on faith, vocation, and the spiritual journey. Bishop Curry shares stories from his upbringing in a deeply rooted yet open-minded Christian family, shaped by the Civil Rights Movement and a commitment to justice. He reflects on how those early experiences—alongside influential voices encountered during his college years—helped him connect faith with action in the world. Together, they explore the intersection of personal spirituality and social responsibility, the challenges of modern life, and the enduring human longing for meaning, connection, and divine love.

Empowering Others and Leadership

Bishop Dion Johnson discusses how churches must change to survive by focusing on hospitality, listening to their communities, and adapting worship and spaces to meet real needs—especially of younger generations and families. He shares practical examples of asking honest questions, welcoming feedback, and reimagining church life to be more accessible and relational. Johnson emphasizes empowering lay leadership, doing fewer ministries well, and shifting toward a "lay-led, clergy-supported" model. He also reflects on his personal spiritual practices—daily prayer, walking, and listening—and concludes with a central message: remember that each person's first and lasting identity is being God's beloved, and live accordingly.