Sometimes incumbents ask ‘why would I need a deacon?’ I took this challenge to a group of deacons and this is what they said:
WHY HAVE A DEACON?
Because …
- Deacons are Jesus to the world and the church (Ignatius)
- Deacons bring the world into worship, and worship into the world
- Deacons are ambassadors for Christ’s servant ministry
- Deacons have a focus which is outwards from the church, encouraging the whole church to be Christ’s servant in the world
- Deacons are bridge builders between church and community
- Deacons are the conscience of the church
- Deacons are risk-takers and lost sheep-finders
- ‘when the church takes its eyes off the diaconal calling, it normally ends up dividing to create a church that brings it back’
- Deacons are the heart, feet, hands of the church in the community
- Deacons are a visible reminder to the church of its own servant ministry
- Deacons welcome people across the threshold of the church … and send them back out into the world refreshed and empowered
- Deacons bring people to baptism and confirmation
- Deacons equip the saints to be heralds of the gospel
- Deacons are interpreters of the world to and for the church
- Deacons are prophets, speaking truth to power
- Deacons are called to model servant leadership
- Deacons’ sacramental participation in the Eucharist flows out to the world in servant-hearted mission
What would you add?
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 