ABOUT DEACONS (Taken from August 2002 magazine)
I know many of you have been wondering exactly what a deacon does. It depends to some degree on which type of deacon we are talking about. Transitional deacons are the type familiar to most of you - they are planning to go on to the priesthood. I am a vocational deacon, or a person who has been called to the diaconate as a vocation. The diaconate was originally a separate and particular ministry, along with that of bishops. Deacons ministered to those who tended to be forgotten by the institutional church and did not have responsibility for parish administration. I am using modem terms for ancient institutions and positions in order to be as brief as possible. I have some books coming that will, perhaps, be of interest to some of you for further information, and I will be happy to answer questions or discuss the diaconate with you. The idea of a separate, distinctive diaconate got lost as the church grew and became more hierarchically structured, and the order of deacons became more and more that of an apprentice priesthood, through which one passed on the way to becoming a priest.
In the twentieth century, the Roman and Orthodox branches of the church began to revive the idea of a distinctive, or vocational, diaconate, which would function as originally intended - less as a parochial, liturgical ministry than an order whose primary mission would be to those marginalized by society, forgotten by the church, and otherwise in need of attention. The Episcopal Church and other branches of the Anglican Communion have followed suit. Deacons work and minister primarily outside the church structure, however there are certain liturgical functions primarily performed by deacons, when available. Deacons do not consecrate the elements, pronounce blessings or absolve sins, and rarely preside at Eucharists (and then only using already consecrated elements). Deacons do sometimes baptize, preside at funerals, solemnize marriages and perform other functions, but are primarily a servant ministry.
This is reflected in what deacons do during the liturgy. As a reminder of our commission to take the gospel into the world, we read the gospel in the liturgy. As a reminder of our commission to bring the needs and concerns of the world to the attention of the church, we read or lead the prayers of the people, or intercessions. As a reminder of our servant ministry, we set the table and wash up afterwards, and perform other functions intended to facilitate worship. Deacons are also there to encourage the ministry and service of others. It is my own intention to perform the functions of deacon in a way that upsets as little as possible the wonderful lay ministries in place at St. James. Liturgy means the work of the people, and we will all need to work together to accomplish this. I have a great interest in outreach and am looking forward to working with those in these ministries. In fact, I am looking forward to our whole experience and ministry here in Birstwith and in sharing in the wonderful work that is already going on here.
Judy Mackey