Plater has done us all a great service in pinpointing men and women across the ages who lived out their lives as deacons in the service of God and of the needy. Please follow the link below to access the Calendar.
Author: GillK
Gill has been a missioner in Nigeria, Romania and various parishes in England. She was ordained a 'distinctive' deacon in 1991. In this capacity she was warden of the College of St Philip the Deacon in Exeter diocese, and founder member of the CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons https://cofedeacons.org. She has also written the story of her own call, Deacon by Design. https://www.waterstones.com/book/deacon-by-design/gill-kimber/9781910719794
She's passionate about the diaconate and, now retired, continues to support those who are called to this ministry.
Excitingly, we now have details of our next Distinctive Deacons' conference! It will be online (no battling with Storm Babet, as happened last year!) and it's called Last Orders? Restoring the priority of the Diaconate. Date and time: Saturday, November 2 · 9:30am - 2:30pm GMT It's our chance to meet our new Patron, Bishop … Continue reading Last Orders? restoring the priority of the diaconate
Four centuries later, John Chrysostom praised Phoebe’s work for the church as an inspiration and model for both men and women to imitate. He called her a saint—a holy person and a woman who served the church through the office of deacon.
What we have noticed as we have prepared these statements are four particular areas which mark out the ministry of a distinctive deacon and which we have distilled from the more detailed evidence work. They are not earth-shattering and many of you will be exemplifying them already. But they do go some way to articulating what this ministry is all about. In particular, these points might help to sharpen where this ministry is indeed distinctive and different from that of a priest.
Be true to your calling. Remember you represent Christ the Servant. God does not call in isolation. He’s called you to be in this space, at this time, however unprepared and inadequate you may feel. Remember God’s faithfulness, acknowledging it out loud as the congregation may be mourning a loss, angry, or relieved. So don't try to be the person ‘in charge’, but the servant of those who are.
Confronting the structures of domination demands advocating for sustainable, equitable alternatives that prioritize human well-being and environmental stewardship.
As followers of Jesus, who challenged oppressive systems and championed the marginalized, we are called to embody the values of his kingdom. This entails actively dismantling systems of exploitation and advocating for a world where justice, compassion, and stewardship of creation reign supreme. In doing so, we align ourselves with the transformative vision of the kingdom of God, where every person is valued, and the well-being of all creation is upheld.
A fascinating deaconversation! CENDD's education adviser, Dr Deacon Jonathan Halliwell, explores with Sue her call to the diaconate and how she sees her ministry developing.
At the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Pete Wilcox is our distinctive deacons' champion.
If this is the kind of community you would be interested in serving and learning alongside, we'd love to hear from you! Opportunities range from regular volunteering, studying with us online through joining our MTMM course, or, if you would like to explore a more immersive training experience with us, please email hello@lighthousewy.org.uk to discuss the possibility of a short term placement or joining our year-long internship programme.
As a ‘go-between’ representing the Church in the court of Charlemagne, he served as an ambassador for Christ in the world.
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 