Acts 6 describes the establishment of the role of deacon within the community of believers. A dispute over meeting the needs of the Greek and Hebrew widows led to the leadership making the decision to find people who could meet the needs within the community. The leaders looked for people who were described as being full of the Holy Spirit. They found Stephen who is described as being “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5)
Category: Blog
I immediately knew what I was going to do for my Lenten discipline this year. I am not giving up my two chocolate Kisses that I have each evening. I am not giving up the glass of wine I so enjoy with a meal during the week. I am not going to walk further each of the 40 days, nor am I giving up cursing. I won’t be eating just fish on Fridays, or even giving up red meat on any other day during Lent.
It is the primary role of the Deacon to remind God's Church that each person is called to diaconal work, according to his/her gifts and abilities.
The diaconate has evolved immensely in the generation since those words were written, not only in the Anglican Communion but in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and other churches, where the “vocational” diaconate has come to the fore and proved its value. Changed understandings of diakonia, diaconate and deacons have very much influenced this evolution. Our purpose is to introduce the renewed diaconate to those who may not be familiar with it, and provide helpful information to deacons, diaconal candidates, and indeed all interested in the Church’s ministry.
It's so important we just don't assume, make a false assumption that people, because they're watching us online are particularly interested in what we offer on Sunday in a physical church.
Sermon from Romsey Abbey. Deacon Paul Hollingworth sits on a table, swings his legs and explains what a distinctive deacon is to him.
They straddle the boundary between church and public square, discerning Christ at work in both locations and helping others make the crossing. As such they require the skill of bilingualism: the ability to understand the cultures of church and community, speak both languages and facilitate dialogue between the two.
It must be clearly stated that Deacons, while being communicant members of congregations, having a liturgical ministry and dovetailing with the work of presbyters, are primarily a task force at the disposal of the Bishop, for work, most of which is out in the world. They have their proper place in a diocesan rather than a congregational strategy of mission. They are a pioneer corps rather than auxiliaries to share the load of existing intra-congregational ministries.21
The mark of true diaconal ministry is to foster the initiation of lay ministries galore —to pioneer and then hand over, in order to be free again to pioneer
My ministry is incredibly varied; no two visits are the same. When asked, I can’t really describe what it is I do as a deacon, other than that it means meeting people where they are on their journeys, listening to them, encouraging them in their questioning about life and death, and enabling, supporting and being alongside them as their journeys come to an end.
Exploring my vocation is very much in that vastness moment. It’s that wow with no words. Stopping in that wow to write what I feel, I just find tears and no words.
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 