When you begin looking for the deacon in the midst of your congregation it is very important to note that you will not see persons fully formed and realized as deacons. An intentional experience of formation and development will be an essential ingredient of the process persons will go through in order to fulfill the promise of the deacon within them and to be ready to be ordained. Study and work at the School for Deacons is essential in that formation and development.
You are looking for inclinations toward diaconal ministry and the potential an individual has to become an ordained deacon in the church.
Bear in mind that the potential deacon is an active participant in the life of the parish, one who is regular in weekly worship, and in “working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God.” [Constitution & Canons, I.17.Sec.3]
Once you have done the background work, several images or metaphors for the deacon can help you.
You should look for –
This is not one who is servile! It is servanthood as proclaimed by Jesus, who "came not to be served but to serve." Servanthood modeled by Jesus who took a towel and washed the feet of those he challenged to follow him. Service as one given to reaching out to and helping the other.
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.
Deacons have a limited yet powerful function in liturgy and in the life of the congregation to act out, model, show in a symbolic way the concrete ministry of service in action. We are to look for people who can play this liturgical role with confidence, competence, and in an inspiring way. We expect them to stand in the doorway both to dismiss us “to do the work God has given us to do” and to show us the way.
We look for people who can cajole, inspire, invite, support, encourage, celebrate, and sustain the impulses to ministry in and of all people in the congregation.
We look for people who can and do speak up for those who have no voice or go unheard. We look for people who can articulate the Good News both to us in the faith community and to those with whom we seek to ally outside the church, to engage in compassionate action and ministries of justice.
We look for people who can see an unmet need in a hurting and unjust world and can marshal the wills and resources to start up a ministry of the people in response to it. These are people who can initiate, innovate, and then let go – to leave the people to carry on, grow into, and expand what was started.
The ministry of deacons is of compassion and justice. The prophet sees the gap between what is and what God wishes for us and can articulate it and draw others to it. The prophetic deacon is not strident, partisan, offensive, but rather compassionate, clear, and insistent. We look for people who can see and can speak about Good News as reconciliation, recompense, and restoration.
Deacons play a distinctive and active role in the Eucharistic liturgy of the church. Each dimension of that role links to or expresses an element of diakonia as a reminder and an inspiration to the gathered congregation. Therefore, we look for persons who are, or will become, confident, comfortable, and exemplary when serving liturgically, so that they feel it is an authentic place for them.
It is important to remember that in all of this discernment we are looking for signs and hints of possibility, not perfected saints. No one deacon will embody all of these traits.
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