Discerning a Call to the Diaconate
The Venerable Betsy Bennett, Archdeacon, Diocese of Nebraska
BKSM Board Member and Course Instructor
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Who is called to be a deacon? The fluid and organic nature of the diaconate, an ancient order of ministry that was renewed in the latter part of the twentieth century as a separate and equal order, can make this a difficult question both for individuals feeling a call to ordained ministry and for others in the church who support them in the discernment process.
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Useful Links:
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The ordination rite for deacons in The Book of Common Prayer (pp. 537-437) is a good place to begin learning more about our current understanding of diaconal ministry. In particular, the Examination on p. 543 spells out the expectations of deacons.
While deacons are assigned to serve within existing parish structures, they serve directly under the Bishop.
Deacons serve people who are easily overlooked in our world, while at the same time calling others in the church to serve people who are hungry, sick, alone, or helpless in any way.
Deacons serve as a sort of bridge between the church and the world, bringing Christ and his redemptive love to the world, and interpreting to the Church “the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.”
For many in the Church, deacons are most visible when carrying out their usual liturgical role during the Eucharist. Deacons proclaim the Gospel, prepare the table for Eucharist and assist in distributing the elements, and dismiss the people to go and serve in the name of Christ. In many parishes, deacons lead the prayers of the people or write the prayers.
While the deacon’s liturgical role does assist the celebrant, the primary reason for these liturgical duties is to serve as a reminder of the diaconal service to which all baptized persons are called: evangelism, feeding the hungry, praying for the church and the world, and serving in Christ’s name throughout the week.
Potential deacons will be found among faithful members of the Church who worship regularly, but they will be more focused on what is happening outside of the church walls than they are on the internal workings and issues of the church.
Susanne Watson Epting’s book Unexpected Consequences: The Diaconate Renewed looks at the history of the diaconate in the Episcopal Church to help us understand the role of deacons today. The deacon’s role as interpreter of the world’s needs, concerns, and hopes to the church is key to understanding contemporary deacons. Deacons are called to be prophetic voices, calling the church to live into the promises of God’s kingdom by advocating for people in need and leading us to compassionate justice and reconciliation.
The website for the Association for Episcopal Deacons (http://www.episcopaldeacons.org) offers several resources both for those in discernment and for ordained deacons. Exploring the website can help you understand what diaconal ministry looks like on the ground. If you or someone you know is discerning a possible call to the diaconate, you might find especially useful a document from the School for Deacons in Berkeley, California: Seeing the Deacon in our Midst by Roderick Dugliss.
Diocesan Archdeacons can provide you more information and insight into how deacons function in a particular diocese.
While deacons are assigned to serve within existing parish structures, they serve directly under the Bishop.
Deacons serve people who are easily overlooked in our world, while at the same time calling others in the church to serve people who are hungry, sick, alone, or helpless in any way.
Deacons serve as a sort of bridge between the church and the world, bringing Christ and his redemptive love to the world, and interpreting to the Church “the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.”
For many in the Church, deacons are most visible when carrying out their usual liturgical role during the Eucharist. Deacons proclaim the Gospel, prepare the table for Eucharist and assist in distributing the elements, and dismiss the people to go and serve in the name of Christ. In many parishes, deacons lead the prayers of the people or write the prayers.
While the deacon’s liturgical role does assist the celebrant, the primary reason for these liturgical duties is to serve as a reminder of the diaconal service to which all baptized persons are called: evangelism, feeding the hungry, praying for the church and the world, and serving in Christ’s name throughout the week.
Potential deacons will be found among faithful members of the Church who worship regularly, but they will be more focused on what is happening outside of the church walls than they are on the internal workings and issues of the church.
Susanne Watson Epting’s book Unexpected Consequences: The Diaconate Renewed looks at the history of the diaconate in the Episcopal Church to help us understand the role of deacons today. The deacon’s role as interpreter of the world’s needs, concerns, and hopes to the church is key to understanding contemporary deacons. Deacons are called to be prophetic voices, calling the church to live into the promises of God’s kingdom by advocating for people in need and leading us to compassionate justice and reconciliation.
The website for the Association for Episcopal Deacons (http://www.episcopaldeacons.org) offers several resources both for those in discernment and for ordained deacons. Exploring the website can help you understand what diaconal ministry looks like on the ground. If you or someone you know is discerning a possible call to the diaconate, you might find especially useful a document from the School for Deacons in Berkeley, California: Seeing the Deacon in our Midst by Roderick Dugliss.
Diocesan Archdeacons can provide you more information and insight into how deacons function in a particular diocese.