SO YOU WANT TO HAVE A DEACON IN YOUR

CONGREGATION

Lead Enable Encourage

What is a “deacon?”

How is a deacon different from a priest?

What do deacons do?

How does one find a deacon?

The Holy Scriptures and ancient Christian writers make it clear that from the apostles’ time, there have been different ministries within the Church.

There are three distinct orders of ordained ministers that have been characteristic of Christ’s holy catholic Church.

What is Ordained Ministry?

To represent Christ in his Church particularly as apostle, chief priest and pastor of a diocese;

to guard the faith, unity and discipline of the whole the Church;

Ministry of the Bishop

To proclaim the Word of God; To act in Christ’s name for the reconciliation

of the world and the building up of the Church;

And to ordain others to continue Christ’s ministry.

BCP pg. 855

Ministry of the Bishop

Ministry of the Priest To represent Christ and his Church

particularly as pastor to the people; To share with the Bishop in the overseeing

of the Church; To proclaim the gospel; To administer the sacraments; To bless and declare pardon in the name of

God.BCP pg. 856

Ministry of the Deacon To represent Christ and his Church,

particularly as a servant of those in need;

To assist Bishops and Priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments.

BCP Pg. 856

Proclaim the Gospel Set the table Clear the table Dismiss the people Serve as the Bishop’s chaplain If there is a Deacon present, only the Deacon should perform these functions. 

What does a Deacon do in the liturgy?

Absolution

Blessing

Consecration

Ordination

Being in charge of a congregation

Some actions are reserved for Bishops and Priests

Preach the diaconal message of Christ Inspire others to fulfill their Baptismal

Covenant Empower others to do God’s work here on

earth Enable others to access resources

necessary for God’s work Assist in writing the Prayers of the People

What might the Deacon do?

Raise up and support lay outreach ministers Support Outreach Committee Exemplify outreach in personal ministry Assist in gathering data on outreach

alternatives Mentor follow-up groups to hands-on

outreach Lead/facilitate participation in community

programs

What might the Deacon do?

Train and supervise Eucharistic Ministers and Visitors

Teach and enable Christian Education Take Communion to the hospitalized and

homebound Enable Bible study programs Train Acolytes

What might the Deacon do?

Prepare Lay-readers and Lectors Duties appointed by the Proper Liturgies for

Special Days (Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil)

Perform other functions specific to the Bishop and the individual congregation.

What might the Deacon do?

A Deacon will NOT take your place

A Deacon will not do all the outreach in a congregation

A Deacon is not an assistant priest or parish secretary

What will a deacon NOT do?

Deacons often have secular employment. Deacons in our diocese are employed as nurses, teachers, insurance salespersons, and consultants. Others are retired from positions in medicine, tax, art, and correction among others.

Where do we find a deacon?

“I am convinced that there are at least two deacons in every congregation who do not yet know that they are called to this. It is the delightful and diligent task of all the people to look for them

Roderick B. Dugliss, Dean info@sfd.edu www.sfd.edu The School for Deacons

Ordination of Cindy Long June 2007

Discernment

The congregation has the responsibility to help its members in discerning a call to ministry—lay and ordained.

We are used to waiting for someone to say, “I think God is calling me to be a deacon.” Today we are seeking more and more for the community of faith to be the initiator of this process.

Call to ministry comes from many sources. You can be one of those sources.

Has someone come to mind?

Learn about the Diaconate

1) Read the section of “an Outline of the Faith commonly called the Catechism” on The Ministry. [Book of Common Prayer, pp. 855-856]

What are the first steps?

2) Review your Baptismal Covenant. [Book of Common Prayer, pp. 304-305]

3) Read The Examination in the Rite for the Ordination of a Deacon [Book of Common Prayer, p. 543]

What are the first steps?

4) Read the national church Title II Canons, particularly Number 6, “The Ordination of Deacons” and Number 7, “The Life and Ministry of Deacons.” You can most readily get this text from the Episcopal Church website, www.episcopalchurch.org.

What are the first steps?

5) Talk to two or more deacons. Diaconal ministry has varied enough expressions

that you need to hear from several perspectives.

6) Read about the diaconateMany Servants by Ormond PlaterDiaconate: A Full and Equal Order, by James M. Barnett

What are the first steps?

7) Visit the Website www.episcopaldeacons.org

This is the website for the Association for Episcopal Deacons. You will find their newsletter, event information, as well as information about the diaconate, opportunities for on-line classes,

and what deacons are doing.

8) Visit www.sfd.edu to learn about formation at the School for Deacons.

What are the first steps?

9) Visit the page for deacons at www.norcalepiscopal.org or on Facebook at Deacons in Northern California

See what our Deacons do and who they are.

Invite an Area Deacon to serve, preach and explain

Southwest Deanery: Phina Borgeson, Cookie Clark, Pam Moore, Susan Reeve

Northeast Deanery: Aileen Aidnik, Tina Campbell

Dave Ferrell and Lew PowellSuperior or Semper Virens: Cookie and Lew

How about this?

look for Baptized persons who are

Disciple Formed Gospel Centered Mission Driven

who passionately

Find Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned

Lead Christian people in loving care of the poor, sick, lonely, and needy

Defend those who have no helper

Who to look for?

We are all called to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving neighbor as self.” Deacons have the willingness, skills, and ability to guide, direct, coax, and coach all of us in both seeking-seeing Christ where we may not want to, and may not be able to – and serving. Deacons don’t – and can’t – do it all themselves. They lead us all so that the world is served in Christ and in the name of Christ.

The Bottom Line

Making Disciples, Raising up Saints& Transforming Communities for Christ.

Acknowledgements The Rev. Canon Tina Campbell

The Ven. Cookie Clark The Deacon in Our Midst and Dean Rod Dugliss, The School for

Deacons