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Archdeacon Jim Upton dies of cancer

By Melodie Woerman
Editor, The Harvest

Archdeacon Jim Upton, whose ministry reached across the Diocese of Kansas and The Episcopal Church, died Sunday, June 17. He was 57 and had battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for more than two years.

He was ordained to the diaconate Nov. 1, 1984, by Bishop Richard Grein and was named an archdeacon in April 1994 by Bishop William Smalley. He retained that post under Bishop Dean Wolfe.

His service to the diocese was extensive and far-reaching:

• diaconal ministry at St. Christopher’s and St. Alban’s, Wichita, and St. Matthew’s, Newton;
• 20 years on the Commission on Ministry;
• 21 years as junior high camp director and counselor;
• five years as director of the Kansas School of Ministry;
• three terms as president of the Southwest Convocation and one term as vice-president;
• a term on the old policy-setting Diocesan Council; and
• time as chair of a task force on peace and subsequent membership on the Outreach and Social Justice Committee.

He also had an impact at the national level:

• two terms as deputy from Kansas to General Convention and Province 7 Synod; and
• two years on the board of the North American Association for the Diaconate.

Upton was a longtime educator and taught special needs students. He most recently served as coordinator of vocational and special needs for the Sedgwick County Special Education Cooperative.

He also maintained a lifelong love of Scouting. He was himself an Eagle Scout and served on the national Boy Scout Council.

Ministry of servanthood
Throughout his 22 years of ordained ministry, Upton was known as an advocate for the diaconate and the servant ministry that order embodies.

He preached the sermon at the 1990 diocesan convention Eucharist at which two deacons were ordained. In it he described his understanding of the role of deacons.

“If there can be any simple definition of what the ministry of a deacon is or of the diaconate, perhaps it is to stand in the community of the faithful and remind us of the need for servants, to remind us that we are servants, that we are in a servant church and followers of a Servant-Christ, and equally called and sent into this broken and hurting world to serve in his name.”

When Upton was honored by St. Matthew’s, Newton in February 2003, Bishop Smalley sent a letter of congratulations. In it he wrote, “The diocese is a better place because of your tireless and wonderful ministries.

“Faithful husband, wonderful father and grandfather, deacon extraordinaire, teacher, friend of youth, coordinator of deacons and their ministries, visionary for the church, administrator of programs — you are an amazing Christian, and I join with many others in thanking God for you.”

Bishop Wolfe said of Upton, “The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas has lost an experienced and gifted leader, an extraordinary deacon and a brother in Christ of the deepest convictions — a true servant to all.”

The Board of Directors of the North American Association for the Diaconate remembered Upton during their meeting the week after he died.

They said of him, “Jim’s leadership as an archdeacon in the Diocese of Kansas was well known and respected. ... He helped set the bar for the role of archdeacon and shared freely with other archdeacons and formation directors.

“We were privileged to have him as a NAAD Board member. He joined the Board in 2005 and was just re-elected to serve another term. His colleagues on the Board of NAAD will miss him.”

NAAD also honored Upton in 2005 when he was one of nine deacons to receive the group’s “Recognition of Diaconal Ministry” award.

Family and memorials
Upton is survived by his wife of 28 years, Mary; daughter Megan Tyner; sons James Upton and Jeff Upton; two grandchildren, Maggie and Lennon James Tyner; one brother and five sisters.

Upton ’s life and ministry was remembered in a requiem Eucharist at St. Matthew’s, Newton, on June 22, with Bishop Wolfe as celebrant and preacher.

The family requests memorial contributions to the Kansas School of Ministry, which may be sent to the diocesan office, 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612.

Memorials also may be made to Camp Wood YMCA or Quivira Scout Ranch and sent in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main, Newton, KS 67114.