David Collinsworth is a man who is comfortable living life “in a fishbowl.” Having spent the past 32 years serving in a variety of roles in local government, he knows what it is like to have his words and actions observed by the public. So, he wasn’t intimidated to learn life would be similar as a deacon.

“As a deacon and an ordained minister of the church, people pay attention to how they see you acting not only in the confines of the church itself but in the community and other associations you have, and to me, because that is the life of a city manager, that was a box I could check,” Collinsworth said.

Deacon David Collinsworth makes the promise of obedience to Bishop Earl Fernandes. CT photo by Ken Snow

He retired after spending 13 years as City Manager for the City of Westerville, where he lives with his wife, Jane. Their three children, Rachel, Abbie and Andrew, are now in their 20s.

Prior to his work in Westerville, Collinsworth was City Manager for Tipp City for 10 years and Assistant City Manager in Miamisburg for seven years. In total, Collinsworth spent 32 years working in public servant roles, many positions requiring 50-60 hours of work each week. He said he sees serving the needs of the community as a common, and essential, element in both civil service and the diaconate.

“There are a lot of similarities and overlaps,” he said. “In both venues, you’re living life in a fishbowl and there are people that you serve that have certain expectations of you in terms of what your demeanor is and how you interface with them. From that standpoint I’d say the life of public service has helped prepare me a little bit. It’s a different domain but the same concept.”

Deacon David Collinsworth receives the laying on of hands from Bishop Earl Fernandes. CT photo by Ken Snow

Life in local government might bring to mind the plots of TV shows and movies with zany situations involving neighbors, and Collinsworth had his share of those situations. There are, of course, plenty of legitimate issues that pop up in the daily running of a city and Collinsworth enjoyed the challenge of making improvements.

“You’re looked to in that role as being able to solve problems, to make improvements in the overall life of the community whether it’s developing parks or improving services or addressing people’s particular needs in the community,” he said. “That was something I got a lot of intrinsic value from.

“In the wonderful world of local government as I like to call it, you have people that are coming to you with problems, with challenges, with issues that there’s some expectation that you’ll be able to help bring about a solution or a resolution. I can see in the diaconate that your personal relationship with the parish and the faithful that you develop a similar kind of relationship where people’s needs are different.

“Their issues and problems are spiritual, they’re personal in nature. It’s the same kind of interaction. I’m coming to you because you possess something that can help address my issue, my need, my problem. That parallels the diaconate: being open and available to serve and help address needs and issues.”

Although retired from full-time public service, Collinsworth now works as a management consultant providing executive recruiting and other services for local governments in Ohio and the Midwest. This has allowed him some additional flexibility and time to study and prepare for becoming a deacon.

“There’s never been a point in my adult life that I haven’t felt a closeness to God,” he said. “Coming to the diaconate has been a steady, slow drip of grace in my life. There was a gift of faith there with which I sensed God asking me to do more. It’s been a natural progression for me.”