I’m thrilled to have received permission from Rev Dr Anna Sorensen to share with you her PhD research, ‘What does it mean to be a Distinctive Deacon in the Church of England today?’ This is a piece of work of major significance for the diaconate and I for one am immensely grateful that she’s offered it so generously. She has completed it very recently so it’s bang up to date.
All she asks is that, if we use it, we should reference it in writing.
It’s full of good and useful stuff! – but here’s a taster:
In my view, if distinctive deacons were not compromised by a lack of understanding of their role, and lack of stipendiary support, they could be a major missional force in the Church of England, and answer the question posed by Morisy as to why the Church has never made
‘appreciable inroads into our secular society on behalf of the Gospel.’ (1997, 1).
(page 185)
You can access Anna’s thesis here, and believe me, it is well worth the reading because she’s researched all the issues that so many of us grapple with, and pinned them down and clarified them. Thank you, Anna!
anna sorensen PhD What does it mean to be a distinctive deacon in the Church of England today?
I have included it permanently under ‘Useful Books and Papers‘.
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 