The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee is excited to announce the presence of a new Franciscan Friar in the diocese. Brother Dustin Odom completed his year of postulancy and officially became a Franciscan friar in the Order of St. Francis (OSF) on July 21, 2024. The blessing and installation of Br. Dustin into the Order of St. Francis took place at the DeKoven Episcopal Center in Racine, Wisconsin during the communities annual convocation.
The Order of St. Francis is a dispersed Anglican Religious Order with brothers active in ministry and service in the United States (The Episcopal Church) and Canada (The Anglican Church of Canada). Rather than living in community, the OSF Franciscan friars are embedded out in the world serving in their respective communities and parishes. The OSF Franciscans are active in ministries to the homeless, the poor, the marginalized, the hospitalized, the homebound, and those living in a nursing facility. Brother Dustin will enter a two year novitiate training period before taking his solemn vows as a professed Franciscan friar. The OSF bothers meet daily, weekly, and monthly using Zoom on the internet for prayer, study, and formation. The brothers meeting yearly in person for their annual convocation at the DeKoven Episcopal Center in Racine, Wisconsin.
Brother Dustin is a member of St. John’s Church in Johnson City and is active in Christian education at his parish. He plans to expand his ministry to the home bound. He is a public school teacher in the area.
A celebration of a Franciscan vocation will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnson City on September 22, 2024 at the 10:30 service. Representatives of the Order of St. Francis, members of other religious orders, and Br. Andrew Morehead, OC (Ecumenical Order of Charity) representing the diocese will be in attendance. All are invited to this historic celebration.