Eastern Shore Episcopalian (ESE) - Convention 2018

8
FAQs about Vocational Deacons
in the Diocese of Easton
By the Rev. Daniel Dunlap, PhD
On behalf of the Commission on Ministry
What are deacons?
From the earliest days of the church, the order of
deacons (or diaconate) has been recognized as one
of three distinct orders of ordained ministry, along
with bishops and presbyters (i.e. priests). The Book
of Common Prayer describes deacons as called to a
“special ministry of servanthood,” directly under the
authority of the bishop. The word “deacon” comes
from the Greek word diakonos, which means “servant.”
A related word diakonia (servant ministry) is often
used to describe the ministry of deacons. Yet the New
Testament also uses diakonia to describe the ministry of
all disciples.
What is the role of a deacon?
Deacons are called to serve all people but particularly
“the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.” Deacons
are given the special task of interpreting to the Church
the “needs, concerns and hopes of the world.” In this
way the diaconate is a “bridge” between the church and
the world, and the world and the church. Deacons are
called to image Christ, “who came not to be served but
to serve,” and to share in his ministry (cf. BCP, pp. 543,
545).
Where did deacons come from?
Early church leaders, like Irenaeus (d. AD 202),
believed that Acts 6:1-7 described the commissioning
of the first deacons. This passage tells the story of a
complaint brought to the twelve apostles in Jerusalem.
Some widows (of a Hellenic or Greek background)
were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food,
while other widows (of Aramaic background) were
being favored. As there was no social “safety net” at
that time, the poor and the vulnerable (often widows
and orphans) relied on the charity of the community to
survive. To resolve this controversy the twelve proposed
that the disciples choose from among themselves seven
individuals “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (v. 3), to
whom the ministry (diakonia) of waiting tables could
be delegated, thereby allowing the apostles to continue
to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry
(diakonia) of the Word. The apostles then prayed and
laid their hands over the seven, ordaining them as the
first deacons.
How did deacons function in the early centuries of
the church?
The period of the second through the sixth centuries
AD is often called the “golden age of deacons.” This
was a time when deacons were often given more
prominent and visible roles than presbyters. Deacons
served as assistants or secretaries to bishops, provincial
administrators, and even as episcopal envoys. The
office of “archdeacon” was created during this period,
denoting the most senior clerics of a province. It was
even common for new bishops to be elected from
their ranks rather than from among the presbyters.
Nevertheless the primary role of deacons remained as
it was in New Testament times: the distribution of alms
to the poor and the care of the destitute. Thus Deacons
also ran hospitals, hostels, and houses of refuge.
Why are candidates for the priesthood ordained as
deacons first?
The practice of ordaining candidates as deacons prior to
their ordination as priests arose in the early middle ages
when ministry was viewed more or less as a ceremonial
ascent up the ranks of the five minor orders (porter,
lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon) to the sacramental
or holy orders of deacon, priest, and bishop. When the
Church of England abolished the minor orders in the
sixteenth century the order of ascent was drastically
abridged, yet not completely eliminated. Candidates
still entered holy orders through the “doorway of the
diaconate.” However, the English Church also redefined
the diaconate as a transitional apprenticeship prior
to ordination as a priest. The 1550 ordinal required
deacons to continue in office for “the space of a whole
year at the least…to the intent that [he] may be perfect,
and well expert in the things appertaining to the
Ecclesiastical administration.” Today we call this the
“transitional diaconate.”
How does a vocational deacon differ from a
transitional deacon?
Transitional deacons are called to the priesthood, and
have every expectation of being ordained priests after
their formation as deacons is complete. For them the
diaconate is another step in their formation. Vocational
deacons are called to serve perpetually as deacons. They
understand their “special ministry of servanthood” as
an end in itself.