Needs and Hopes: Lent meditation 3

Needs and Hopes: Lent Meditation 3

‘They are to serve the community in which they are set, bringing to the Church the needs and hopes of all the people.’ (Ordination of Deacons)

Deacons, the servants and agents of love, are called to live within communities: a community of faith (a church) and a local community. They are tasked with serving this local church and should be contextual missional realists who can bring the needs and hopes of all people to the covenant community.

Deacons help connect the dots, so that the covenant community does not remain distant or aloof from the context in which the church is situated.

When the local community bears the weight of sorrow, it is the deacon’s solemn duty to shoulder that burden and bring it to the heart of the church, facilitating a response steeped in empathy and actionable compassion. Conversely, when hope resides within the local community, the deacon bears the responsibility of kindling that hope within the church’s collective spirit.

To fulfil this multifaceted role, deacons must possess the unique gift of both active listening to the community’s voices, and the adeptness to disrupt the complacency of the local church, by conveying the raw realities of the external world. In this capacity, the deacon may assume the mantle of a prophet, fearlessly challenging preconceived notions with fresh perspectives rooted in the contemporary world. This prophetic role prevents the local church from retreating into the realm of spiritual abstraction, detached from the pressing concerns of its immediate context.

Deacons are entrusted with the task of cultural exegesis, delving deep into the nuances of the prevailing culture to discern where the oppressive forces of domination inflict pain and suffering. In this endeavour, they must tread with utmost sensitivity, ensuring they do not overlook the cries and tears of those within their own community who are currently enduring hardship.

While engaged in the profound work of cultural exegesis, exploring the ideologies and worldviews that shape the hopes and needs of our time, deacons must be vigilant not to inadvertently disregard the suffering individuals in their midst. Their busyness should never lead them to walk past those who are presently in the throes of pain and despair.

The deacon lives in two worlds, or we may say three. The church, the world and the kingdom; and the ministry of the deacon is found in the interplay of these realms as an outworking of allegiance to Jesus.

If deacons are to fulfil these vital roles within the church, it is imperative that churches empower and equip them accordingly. Churches must be willing to commission deacons to venture into the community, lending a compassionate ear to its voices, and discerning its pressing needs. Equally crucial, churches must cultivate a receptive environment where the deacon’s insights and findings are not just heard but also heeded.

Father of Creation,

God of Hope,

You have called us as deacons to

listen to the needs of the community

and share this with your church.

By your Spirit, grant us hearts to love,

ears to listen, and a prophetic voice to speak. Amen.

With thanks to John Swales for the image from his website Cruciform Justice https://www.cruciformjustice.com and also for this meditation.