Father David Dismas
A 1972 graduate of Pope John XXIII Catholic Central High School (Everett, MA), David Dismas (nee David Beamer) completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 at Merrimack College (North Andover, MA) where he majored in Religious Studies and Young Adult Ministry. A week later, he was ordained to the priesthood within the independent sacramental movement. The ordination liturgy took place in the sanctuary of The Arlington Street Church in Boston's historic Back Bay.
David continued his studies at the Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1994 and a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degree in 1996. David's M.Div. program included a "specialized curriculum" in Biblical and Historical Studies with an emphasis on the Hebrew Bible while his STM in the Ministry in Society track included specializations in Worship and Preaching. David successfully completed additional Masters Level coursework in the Marriage and Family Therapy track at the University of Massachusetts/Boston, Department of Counseling and School Psychology.
With the permission of the late Rt. Rev. David Johnson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, David performed a Supervised Pastoral Internship at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (Beachmont-Revere, MA). The internship, a required component of Boston University's M.Div. program, ran from September, 1993 until May, 1994 after which David was invited to stay on in the role of "pastoral associate" for an additional four and a half years at the request of the vestry.
Other early ministries included "associate pastor" for Saint Paul's Western Orthodox Parish (Boston, MA), "pastoral associate" for Saint Theresa's Apostolic-Orthodox Parish (Foster, RI), and "missioner" for Saint Mary the Virgin Anglican Rite Parish (Milwaukee, WI). David was also "Summer Camp Chaplain" to Camp Wing/Duxbury Stockade (Duxbury, MA) for five years and to Camp Lapham (Ashby, MA) for two years.
David continued his studies at the Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1994 and a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degree in 1996. David's M.Div. program included a "specialized curriculum" in Biblical and Historical Studies with an emphasis on the Hebrew Bible while his STM in the Ministry in Society track included specializations in Worship and Preaching. David successfully completed additional Masters Level coursework in the Marriage and Family Therapy track at the University of Massachusetts/Boston, Department of Counseling and School Psychology.
With the permission of the late Rt. Rev. David Johnson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, David performed a Supervised Pastoral Internship at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (Beachmont-Revere, MA). The internship, a required component of Boston University's M.Div. program, ran from September, 1993 until May, 1994 after which David was invited to stay on in the role of "pastoral associate" for an additional four and a half years at the request of the vestry.
Other early ministries included "associate pastor" for Saint Paul's Western Orthodox Parish (Boston, MA), "pastoral associate" for Saint Theresa's Apostolic-Orthodox Parish (Foster, RI), and "missioner" for Saint Mary the Virgin Anglican Rite Parish (Milwaukee, WI). David was also "Summer Camp Chaplain" to Camp Wing/Duxbury Stockade (Duxbury, MA) for five years and to Camp Lapham (Ashby, MA) for two years.
Father David Dismas (1990)
Saint Nicholas Mission
First gathered in 1996, Saint Nicholas Mission—AKA The Mission Parish of Saint Nicholas of Myra—served parishioners in the Malden, Everett, Revere, Chelsea and Winthrop area of Massachusetts with a special sensitivity to those no longer welcomed (for whatever reason) by other faith communities. We were incorporated as St. Nicholas Ministries, Inc. (Chapter 180) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on November 24, 1998.
With David as pastor, our membership was always theologically and liturgically eclectic as witnessed by the various elements of our worship that were gleaned from the [Roman Catholic] Sacramentary, the [Episcopal] Book of Common Prayer, the Lutheran Book of Worship, the United Methodist Book of Worship, the United Methodist Hymnal, the [Presbyterian] Book of Common Worship, and many other less well publicized texts resulting from the liturgical consensus of the 1960s and beyond.
Saint Nicholas Mission began holding services in the sanctuary of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church (Beachmont-Revere) where David served his supervised pastoral internship as part of his M.Div. program. During the 17 years that followed, we also shared the altars of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church (Malden), Saint John’s Episcopal Church (Winthrop), Grace Episcopal Church (Everett), and First Lutheran Church (Malden).
In each of these “sharing the altar” situations we would barter the services of our pastor in lieu of paying rent. Depending on the need, David would teach adult religious education classes, lead Bible Studies, provide pulpit supply, conduct healing services, facilitate bereavement support groups or other parish meetings in times of transition, serve as a resource person for information about Hospice or other End-of-Life issues, play the organ and conduct the choir, and otherwise just be of assistance to the pastor and/or the congregation of the host church. We still count many friends with whom we shared God’s love through these relationships and are very grateful for their ongoing support!
With David as pastor, our membership was always theologically and liturgically eclectic as witnessed by the various elements of our worship that were gleaned from the [Roman Catholic] Sacramentary, the [Episcopal] Book of Common Prayer, the Lutheran Book of Worship, the United Methodist Book of Worship, the United Methodist Hymnal, the [Presbyterian] Book of Common Worship, and many other less well publicized texts resulting from the liturgical consensus of the 1960s and beyond.
Saint Nicholas Mission began holding services in the sanctuary of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church (Beachmont-Revere) where David served his supervised pastoral internship as part of his M.Div. program. During the 17 years that followed, we also shared the altars of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church (Malden), Saint John’s Episcopal Church (Winthrop), Grace Episcopal Church (Everett), and First Lutheran Church (Malden).
In each of these “sharing the altar” situations we would barter the services of our pastor in lieu of paying rent. Depending on the need, David would teach adult religious education classes, lead Bible Studies, provide pulpit supply, conduct healing services, facilitate bereavement support groups or other parish meetings in times of transition, serve as a resource person for information about Hospice or other End-of-Life issues, play the organ and conduct the choir, and otherwise just be of assistance to the pastor and/or the congregation of the host church. We still count many friends with whom we shared God’s love through these relationships and are very grateful for their ongoing support!
Saint Nicholas Mission Mass for the Reception of New Members (2007)
Bishop David Dismas
In 1997 David was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Fairhaven (MA), L’Eglise Catholique Charismatique du Canada [Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada] and promoted to the rank of Monsignor. On Christmas Day, 25 December 1999, Patriarch Andre II Letellier signed the mandate for his consecration as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Fairhaven. A large number of parishioners and guests from the three New England dioceses of the Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada gathered in the Marsh Chapel at Boston University on 24 June 2000 to participate in the Mass of Consecration as David was ordained the Auxiliary Bishop of Fairhaven and Titular Bishop of Rumney Marsh. Archbishop Roland L. Salvador of Fairhaven served as principal consecrator, with Bishops Joseph Johnson of Philadelphia (PA), Raymond Contois of Belchertown (MA), and Dennis Dumais of Ossippee (NH) serving as co-consecrators.
The Prayer Society of Saint Florian was begun on 4 May 2001 as a "fellowship of praying persons who offer daily intercession for the safety and other needs of the members of the Fire Service and their families." The martyr Saint Florian is venerated as the patron saint of the Fire Service.
On 28 July 2001, The Saint Florian Chapel was dedicated by Archbishop Roland as both a "headquarters" for The Prayer Society and as a permanent home for Saint Nicholas Mission. The Chapel was dedicated in memory of David's late uncle—Captain Dennis E. Williams—who had served as a career firefighter as well as the first Chief Arson Investigator for the City of Chelsea (MA).
In April 2002, Saint Nicholas Mission affiliated with the International Council of Community Churches with which it enjoyed a dual affiliation for many years.
The Prayer Society of Saint Florian was begun on 4 May 2001 as a "fellowship of praying persons who offer daily intercession for the safety and other needs of the members of the Fire Service and their families." The martyr Saint Florian is venerated as the patron saint of the Fire Service.
On 28 July 2001, The Saint Florian Chapel was dedicated by Archbishop Roland as both a "headquarters" for The Prayer Society and as a permanent home for Saint Nicholas Mission. The Chapel was dedicated in memory of David's late uncle—Captain Dennis E. Williams—who had served as a career firefighter as well as the first Chief Arson Investigator for the City of Chelsea (MA).
In April 2002, Saint Nicholas Mission affiliated with the International Council of Community Churches with which it enjoyed a dual affiliation for many years.
Rt. Rev. David Dismas
Diocese of Rumney Marsh
In August 2001, Archbishop Salvador announced his retirement as from the See of Fairhaven effective 14 September 2001; this triggered a natural time for restructuring. Adopting a spirituality and approach to ministry greatly influenced by the legacies of Nicholas of Myra, Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Damien of Molokai, Carlos Duarte Costa, John XXIII, Andre Barbeau, Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Henri Nouwen, C. David Luther, Teresa of Calcutta, and Mychal Judge—each of whom exhibited a special sensitivity to those who no longer felt welcomed by other faith communities—David amicably separated from the CCCC/USA to establish the Diocese of Rumney Marsh as an autocephalous—i.e., independent, self-governing—jurisdiction effective 15 September 2001. Due to the sad events of 11 September 2001, the founding of the new diocese was marked simply with a signing of the announcement in the now Cathedral Chapel of Saint Florian.
When asked to explain the 'intention' behind the founding of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh, David wrote: "In this Diocese, we are committed to reaching out to those who no longer feel comfortable, for whatever reason, in their church of origin. We feel a special compassion for those who have been 'dissed' by their home church—I.e., those who have come to feel disrespected, discouraged, disillusioned, disenfranchised, displaced, disheartened, etc.—by their own particular branch of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church."
When asked to explain the 'intention' behind the founding of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh, David wrote: "In this Diocese, we are committed to reaching out to those who no longer feel comfortable, for whatever reason, in their church of origin. We feel a special compassion for those who have been 'dissed' by their home church—I.e., those who have come to feel disrespected, discouraged, disillusioned, disenfranchised, displaced, disheartened, etc.—by their own particular branch of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church."
The first ordination in the Diocese of Rumney Marsh: The Rev. Carol Bolstad.
Adult Religious Education
One major thrust of David's ministry has always been adult religious education: a love he developed during his internship at Saint Paul's (Beachmont). Beginning in the spring of 2001, he led the "Tuesday Night Study Group" (TNSG)—an adult education class at Grace Episcopal Church (Everett, MA)—for a total of nine years. The "Saturday Night Study Group"—a similar venture in cooperation with Saint John's Episcopal Church (Winthrop, MA)—was added in September 2005. Finding its own niche, the Saturday Study Group became the "Twice-A-Month Study Group" in October 2006 and met two Saturdays each month. The "Twice-A-Month Study Group" morphed through a number of versions; first meeting in the “choir room” at Saint John’s; then meeting over dinner in the restaurant at the Winthrop Arms; moving to the dining room of one of its Winthrop members; moving back into the “classroom” in the Parish House at First Lutheran Church in Malden; then to the Conference Room at Admirals Hill Office Suites in Chelsea; and finally, to a SKYPE for online classes.
The Twice-a-Month Study Group
Atria Maplewood Place
In 2010, at the invitation of the late Hazel P. Hickman (a dear friend form our days at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church), David and the members of Saint Nicholas Mission began a very fruitful outreach to Atria Maplewood Place Senior Living in Malden, MA. What began as an invitation to offer a single Christmas Service developed into an ongoing interdenominational ministry with twice a month Sunday Services and quarterly Services of Holy Communion; additional services for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday; an annual Lenten Mission; an annual Memorial Service for deceased residents; participation in Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day observances; occasional Adult Religious Education classes and discussion groups; and, specially adapted services for the residents of the Dementia Care Unit.
Palm Sunday (2016) at Atria Maplewood Place
Tent-Making Ministry
As with most clergy associated with the Independent Sacramental Movement, David has always been committed to a Tentmaker Ministry. Building on the model of the Roman Catholic worker-priests of 1930s France, tentmakers are committed to a charism of "witness"—taking the ministries of the Church to the workers when the workers are unable to come to the Church. Tentmakers also commit themselves to NOT taking a salary from the parishes, missions and ministries they serve; more often, they are the primary support of their ministries which frees them for joyful service to the poorest of God’s people. The mantra of tentmakers is truly “don’t give up your day job.”
Although now retired, David has work experience in bookkeeping, office management, hospice volunteer management, bereavement group facilitation, and one on one bereavement care. As bishop and pastor, David has also offered pastoral supervision/consultation to other clergy as well as one-on-one pastoral care, counseling and spiritual direction to anyone dealing with bereavement, loss and transition.
Although now retired, David has work experience in bookkeeping, office management, hospice volunteer management, bereavement group facilitation, and one on one bereavement care. As bishop and pastor, David has also offered pastoral supervision/consultation to other clergy as well as one-on-one pastoral care, counseling and spiritual direction to anyone dealing with bereavement, loss and transition.
Admiral Hill Office Suites -- AKA "The Bunker" -- Chelsea, MA
Time of Transition
In 2013, Saint Nicholas Mission transitioned away from meeting in other folks' church buildings and rented space from Admirals Hill Office Suites (Chelsea); there we maintained an office and held services in the Conference Room. After two years we opted to give up the office space and, with David’s residence—with our beloved Saint Florian Chapel—recently being sold, we moved the bulk of our “church stuff” to a storage facility in Malden from where we would carry what was needed for our twice-monthly services to the Hamilton Room of Atria Maplewood Place (Malden).
Eucharistic Celebration during the 2016 Synod of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh
Dissolution of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh
In August 2016, The Diocese of Rumney Marsh held a Clergy Synod at the Walker Center in Auburndale, MA during which the future of the diocese was discussed. One result was the allowance of David taking a short sabbatical.
Our services at Atria Maplewood Place ended Labor Day weekend 2016 and Saint Nicholas Mission went on hiatus and entered into a period of self-study. This hiatus was extended indefinitely when David had to extend his sabbatical to care for a family member’s medical crisis.
In July 2017, The Diocese of Rumney Marsh held a second synod in Cherry Hill, NJ concurrently with the Annual Conference of the International Council of Community Churches. At that time we began to work towards a formal dissolution of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh tentatively set for Spring/Summer 2018.
Unfortunately, a significant amount of angst developed a couple of months later when we were planning out the presbyteral ordination of our final candidate. While the ordination went off without a hitch—at least any that we remember—our bishop found that particular episode overwhelming and, because we had already set our sails towards dissolution, announced his retirement effective the end of the month.
Our services at Atria Maplewood Place ended Labor Day weekend 2016 and Saint Nicholas Mission went on hiatus and entered into a period of self-study. This hiatus was extended indefinitely when David had to extend his sabbatical to care for a family member’s medical crisis.
In July 2017, The Diocese of Rumney Marsh held a second synod in Cherry Hill, NJ concurrently with the Annual Conference of the International Council of Community Churches. At that time we began to work towards a formal dissolution of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh tentatively set for Spring/Summer 2018.
Unfortunately, a significant amount of angst developed a couple of months later when we were planning out the presbyteral ordination of our final candidate. While the ordination went off without a hitch—at least any that we remember—our bishop found that particular episode overwhelming and, because we had already set our sails towards dissolution, announced his retirement effective the end of the month.
The last ordination in the Diocese of Rumney Marsh: The Rev. John F. Sugden, Jr.
Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas
Effective 30 September 2017, David retired as Bishop of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh and returned to titular status. Almost immediately after his resignation became official, he was asked privately by a number of the clergy of Rumney Marsh to “still be my bishop”; and, he began to wonder if he had interpreted the vote to start the dissolution process incorrectly.
Rather than reenter the fray as bishop of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh—which seemed by that point to have hemorrhaged the majority of its membership—David hastily erected the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas effective 3 December 2017 as a way to offer episcopal oversight to those who really didn’t want to leave him as their bishop.
A Facebook Group called the “Saint Nicholas Clericus” was also established as an attempt to facilitate communication among the clergy members of the fledgling diocese and our friends; and, with the exception of our members didn’t “do Facebook,” it worked quite well.
The Mission Diocese held its own first synod in April 2019 in Hyannis, MA. Sadly, we weren’t able to meet in person again as 2020 and 2021 were spent dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic with its quarantines, self-isolation and social distancing. Rather, we utilized the medium of ZOOM for a series of mini-synods where most of us would gather once each calendar quarter.
Rather than reenter the fray as bishop of the Diocese of Rumney Marsh—which seemed by that point to have hemorrhaged the majority of its membership—David hastily erected the Mission Diocese of Saint Nicholas effective 3 December 2017 as a way to offer episcopal oversight to those who really didn’t want to leave him as their bishop.
A Facebook Group called the “Saint Nicholas Clericus” was also established as an attempt to facilitate communication among the clergy members of the fledgling diocese and our friends; and, with the exception of our members didn’t “do Facebook,” it worked quite well.
The Mission Diocese held its own first synod in April 2019 in Hyannis, MA. Sadly, we weren’t able to meet in person again as 2020 and 2021 were spent dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic with its quarantines, self-isolation and social distancing. Rather, we utilized the medium of ZOOM for a series of mini-synods where most of us would gather once each calendar quarter.
John, Carol, Michael, Becky, and David at the first synod of the MDSN
Changes and Growth
Fast forward to 2022 and our preparations for another in person synod. It became apparent from discussions in the Clericus and in surveys distributed to help us prepare the Synod’s sessions that there are needs among some of us to belong to something that retains the historic apostolic succession as was passed down to us in our early catechesis as an essential to the life of the Church; and, That is NOT a need shared by all who are a part of our small community.
David proposed that it might be in our best interest to more clearly split the two entities. David saw the clericus as being “for all of us” and the diocese as being for the small number of us who need that kind of coverage and/or association with a bishop in the so-called “historic succession.”
David specifically proposed that “leadership” of the clericus and the diocese should be vested in different persons. He called for the election of a new “leader”—styled by Facebook as the “owner”—of the group. He promised to remain in the clericus, but so that the separation of the two would be clear, he would like to not be seen as leading or owning the clericus as well as the diocese.
David proposed that it might be in our best interest to more clearly split the two entities. David saw the clericus as being “for all of us” and the diocese as being for the small number of us who need that kind of coverage and/or association with a bishop in the so-called “historic succession.”
David specifically proposed that “leadership” of the clericus and the diocese should be vested in different persons. He called for the election of a new “leader”—styled by Facebook as the “owner”—of the group. He promised to remain in the clericus, but so that the separation of the two would be clear, he would like to not be seen as leading or owning the clericus as well as the diocese.
Green is the liturgical color for hope ...
The Story Continues
During the course of redefining the Mission Diocese a nagging feeling that he was “not in the right place” had started to overcome David. He was watching more and more catholic liturgies online and on TV. After a period of prayer for discernment, David realized that he had been fighting a sense of call back to a more “catholic” expression of faith simultaneously with his trying very hard to accommodate a jurisdiction in which he was the only cradle-born catholic.
While he was sure that he was not being called back to the church of his youth, he nevertheless started researching other independent catholic jurisdictions that he hoped might welcome him to associate with them as he decided the time was right to plan for his retirement from episcopal ministry.
Around the beginning May 2023 David “gave formal notice” of his planned retirement as diocesan bishop. After providing for the leadership needs of the Mission Diocese through the appointment of a committee to serve for the period of sede vacante, David retired from the Mission Diocese on June 24, 2023.
Believing that “Church is meant to be a community,” David is now seeking a new place/jurisdiction in which to root.
While he was sure that he was not being called back to the church of his youth, he nevertheless started researching other independent catholic jurisdictions that he hoped might welcome him to associate with them as he decided the time was right to plan for his retirement from episcopal ministry.
Around the beginning May 2023 David “gave formal notice” of his planned retirement as diocesan bishop. After providing for the leadership needs of the Mission Diocese through the appointment of a committee to serve for the period of sede vacante, David retired from the Mission Diocese on June 24, 2023.
Believing that “Church is meant to be a community,” David is now seeking a new place/jurisdiction in which to root.
A Final Thought from our Sufi Friends
