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A person ordained to lead and live out the Servant Ministry of Jesus
Christ in the church and in the world
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An icon- inviting model and image- of Servanthood in the life and worship
of the congregation
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A bridge between the church as gathered, worshiping community and the
pain, needs, and broken-ness of the world
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A prophet of social justice and compassionate action, calling all the
people of God to live the servant ministry of their Baptismal Covenant
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A leader, teacher, and nurturer of the church's social ministry
The Role of the Deacon
Key phrases from the charge in the
ordination service for deacons lay out the life of diaconal ministry. Deacons
are called to…
1. A Special Ministry of Servanthood Directly Under the Bishop
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A key relationship (historically and today): a voice of support for the
bishop's vision for social ministry
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The expression of servant ministry as leadership
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The willingness and ability to move and to go where sent
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The freedom from parochial limitations
2. Serve All People (in
the name of Christ), Particularly the Poor, the Weak, the Sick, and the
Lonely
By extension, they also serve the marginalized, the alien, the
ostracized, rejected, ignored, despised, and forgotten. The deacon primarily
focuses to ensure that ALL God's people have a place at the banquet table;
therefore, the diaconate is a ministry that makes concrete the inclusiveness of
the Gospel.
3. Study Holy Scripture, to Seek Nourishment and Model One's Life on
Them
Diaconal ministry is profoundly grounded in scripture, and deacons
are called to a strong scriptural practice and profession. Where deacons are
charged to find and live their lives and ministries out of the Word, priests are
charged to use scripture as a resource. To embody the Gospel that deacons
proclaim, deacons must live deeply into it.
4. Make Christ's Redeeming Love known to All Among Whom They Live, Work,
and Worship
Diaconal ministry is exercised in the faith community AND in
the household AND in the workplace- at the same time. Servanthood is a signature
in all these arenas of life for the Deacon. In this way, the deacon leads all
the baptized by example.
5. Interpret to the Church the Needs, Hopes, and Concerns of the
World
The Deacon is often called a bridge; has one foot in the church and
the other in the world. This is so that the gathered community is alway mindful
of, holds up in prayer, and responds to in life the pain, brokenness, and hunger
of the wider world.
6. Assist in Public Worship
Deacons model a role of service and
proclamation in liturgy. Note that this is part of the charge, but only part.
The Deacon's role in is always subsumed under service and is an arena for
modeling and speaking the diaconal message. A Deacon is not primarily a
liturgical person.
7. At all times, in Life and Teaching, Show Christ's People that in
Serving the Helpless, they serve Christ
Deacons "show" [hence the
language of Deacon as "icon"] and teach the baptized how to live out the
Baptismal Covenant.
About School for Deacons