Distinctive Deacons are part of the threefold ordained ministry of the Church of England, which is both the ministry of Christ and his gift to the Church. CENDD exists to support prospective and current DDs through discernment, training and ministry and seeks to champion this ancient order in the contemporary Church.
Meet our Patron and Steering Group
Why have a deacon in your church?
Bible in Contemporary World Conference
At the beginning of this academic year the University of St Andrew’s hosted the inaugural ‘Bible in Contemporary World Conference’. As part of this DD Ordinand Lucy Bunce presented her Master’s dissertation ‘The Distinctive Diaconate in the Contemporary Church of England’. You can read the paper here.
About the Discernment Process (Robert Avery, National Discernment Advisor)
These are notes from the CENDD online Vocations Evening in June 2026. Robert Avery, National Discernment Advisor in the Church of England spoke about what to expect and how to prepare. Robert provided an overview of the discernment process for those considering DD ministry, explaining that it starts in the parish with clergy, continues with…
New Qualities and Evidences Grid
This is the new Qualities and Evidences Grid in use from September 2026. These grids are used in the Discernment Process and they seeks to discern the shape of a person’s calling within the Church of England. Inhabiting a quality speaks of a lifelong process that is ever deepening, and it offers resonance with the…
A day in the life – click below to find out about DDs . . .
