Meet the Ministry: Dane Miller, Assistant Head Sacristan

Our community at Trinity includes our vibrant parish of more than 1,600 members — and more than 200 employees working to support our worship services, programming, and ministry around New York City and the world.

In this series, we’re introducing you to some of the faces you may see on Sundays and at services and programs throughout the week, whether they’re at the pulpit or the altar or behind the scenes. You’ll get to know what their day to day looks like, what brought them to Trinity, and how to get in touch — and get involved — with the work they’re doing inside and outside of the church.

Dane Miller (he/him) has served on Trinity's Sacristan team for six years, and works with the congregation in several capacities — including coordinating worship service volunteers and co-facilitating the Trinity Book Club. In this edition of Meet the Ministry, Dane tells us how AmeriCorps service lead him to the Episcopal Church, and shares an invitation to the upcoming Holding Space for Pride service. 

Hi, Dane! Tell us about your role at Trinity. How does the work you do fit into the life of the congregation?  

I’m an Assistant Head Sacristan, working on the Liturgy team. I help plan and run the church services, with a particular focus on managing congregational volunteers who participate in worship, such as greeters, ushers, lectors, subdeacons, and thurifers. (If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, reach out!)

Tell us about your path to Trinity. What drew you to working within a spiritual community? 

I first encountered The Episcopal Church while working with AmeriCorps NCCC. My team was sent to an Episcopal camp in Montana to do grounds work, and I later returned to run the camp kitchen for six months. I went on to serve as an Episcopal Service Corps intern for two years on Staten Island, helping with Hurricane Sandy recovery and connecting with the (at that time) ten parishes on the island. My experiences there led me to a graduate studies program in Budapest, where I focused on liturgical history and early Cistercian monastic communities. While there, I was also baptized into the Church. Coming back to the States, I was looking for employment and I saw a posting on CareerBuilder…I’ve been here 6 years now. In short, the Spirit moves.

You’ve been taking part in planning the Holding Space for Pride service, which will be held in collaboration with the Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute (PSI). Can you share a little bit about why Trinity is hosting this event, and what to expect?

In my role as co-lead for the Out at Trinity Employee Resource Group, I have the privilege of hearing from many different people in the LGBTQ+ community at Trinity (and from our allies). Trinity is generally an affirming environment to work and worship in, but we don’t spend our entire lives inside the church building. There has been a lot of concern recently around efforts to roll back hard-won rights for LGBTQ+ people and particularly the role of some religious communities in advancing harmful rhetoric. We wanted to provide a space for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies to come with their hopes and fears, while sharing the message of God’s enduring and unconditional love. Unfortunately, many LGBTQ+ people have experienced religious trauma and may be unfamiliar with open and affirming traditions of the Jesus Movement. Holding Space for Pride is an opportunity to be in community and bring some light into the world. The event will be taking place on Wednesday, June 28, at 5:30pm, and will include a gathering and facilitated conversation followed by a service in the church. All are invited to take part. You can learn more and RSVP here.

How can members of the congregation get in touch with you?

You can always say hello if you see me in the church! I can also be reached by email: DMiller@trinitywallstreet.org

What’s the last book that kept you up way too late, album you listened to all the way through, or meal you can’t forget?

For several years, I have been co-facilitating the Trinity Book Club, which meets Friday nights online. We read and discuss a variety of books together throughout the year. Recent authors have included Evelyn Underhill, Rachel Held Evans, and N.T. Wright. I always learn as much from the conversations as I do from reading the books. We’ll be on hiatus for the summer, but we look forward to returning with some great selections in the fall. We have a wonderful group of regulars, and we are always glad to welcome new faces.

On the question of unforgettable meals, I am a happy resident of Jackson Heights, Queens. There are so many different foods on offer in my neighborhood, almost every meal I eat out is memorable.

What’s your favorite quote, lyric, verse, poem, etc.? Share some words to live by.  

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37­–39).