The Role of Deacons & Licensed Lay Ministers

1. The Role of Deacons & Licensed Lay Ministers The relationship between orders and mission

2. The Historic Diaconate • Διάκονος (diakonos) = servant, waiting-man, minister or messenger. • Second order of the Church. • First deacons chosen to serve internal, charitable needs of the fledgling church.

3. The Historic Diaconate (cont.) • Historic ties to Apostolic/ Episcopal Ministry. • Deacons’ ministries are an extension of the apostolic ministry. • 1 of 3 major orders (plus 14 minor orders in former days)

4. More History • 1st deacons = “The 7” from Acts • Stephen (the 1st martyr), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch • Never called Deacons • Only Saint Phoebe ever called Deacon (Romans 16:1)

5. And Even More! • Confusion about the “order” soon reigned • Deacons copied Apostles’ ministries: • Stephen went out evangelizing • Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch • Deacons & deaconesses.

6. The Disappearing Diaconate • Permanent order in Eastern churches (Orthodox and Catholic). • Mostly disappeared in the West by A.D. 1000. • Some deacons attached to cathedrals. • Final step to priesthood.

7. The Reappearing Diaconate • 20th century restoration in Catholic, Anglican, and United Methodist Churches. • Deacons assist priests in their pastoral and administrative duties • Report directly to the bishop.

8. Distinctive Roles • Proclaim the Gospel. • Preach. • Assist at Eucharist. • Serve the poor and outcast. • In short, they function in: the Word, the Liturgy, and Charity.

9. Two Types of Deacons? • Transitional Deacon • Permanent Deacon • Only one diaconate

10. Diakonia = Service • Particular service to: • Poor, Sick, Oppressed • Deacon’s service is a sign of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. • Deacons encourage & enable others to serve

11. Liturgical Roles • Symbolize“One foot in the world and the other in the Church.” • Deacons’ role in liturgy symbolic of their real ministry in the world. • To serve & assist, not to lead

12. Roles Delineates at Ordination • The Bishop says to the ordinand • “Will you be loyal to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church has received them? And will you, in accordance with the canons of this Church, obey your bishop and other ministers who may have authority over you and your work?”

13. Ordination (cont.) • “My brother, every Christian is called to follow Jesus Christ, serving God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. God now calls you to a special ministry of servanthood directly under your bishop. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.” • God now calls you to a special ministry of servanthood • …serve … particularly the poor, weak, sick, and lonely.”

14. Ordination (cont. again) • As a deacon in the Church, you are to study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishment from them, and to model your life upon them. You are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship. You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. • …interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world.

15. More on Ordination • You are to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God's Word and Sacraments, and you are to carry out other duties assigned to you from time to time. At all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself. • …assist the bishop and priests in public worship. • …show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself.

16. Canons on Deacons • Canon 7: Of the Life and Work of Deacons • Sec. 1. Deacons serve directly under the authority of and are accountable to the Bishop, or in the absence of the Bishop, the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese.

17. Canons on Deacons (cont.) • Sec. 4. …Deacons assigned to a congregation . . . act under the authority of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight in all matters concerning the congregation.

18. Canons on Deacons (cont.) • Canon 7.4.(c) Deacons may serve as administrators of congregations or other communities of faith, but no Deacon shall be in charge of a congregation or other community of faith. • (d) Deacons may accept chaplaincies in any hospital, prison, or other institution. • (e) Deacons may participate in the governance of the Church.

19. Deacons as Icons of Servanthood • Deacons are symbols of Christ and his church. • Icons=a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it either concretely or by analogy.

20. Deacons & the Ministry of Training • Deacons have special role in training lay servants • EMs & EVs • Equipping the voice, hands and feet of Christ to become agents of grace for the healing of the world.

21. Deacons & Pastoral Care • “Deacons are the ordained members of the Body of Christ who are given special charge ‘to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely’.” —The North American Association for the Diaconate

22. Deacons as Prophetic Voice • Witnessing through deeds. • Witnessing trough proclamation. • Call for transformation of giver and receiver

23. Deacons in Social Outreach • Special responsibility for mercy & justice • Leadership of encouragement, training, organizing. • Deacons as “Pointers”.

24. Deacons as Prophetic Voice (cont.) • Challenge systems, structures, and powers that foster poverty, violence, injustice, and environmental degradation. • Speaking truth to power!

25. Rules: Eucharistic Ministers • Deacons, if one is available in the congregation, are responsible for the training of Eucharistic Ministers. • If no deacon, an experienced EM or the presbyter may arrange/lead training.

26. Rules: Eucharistic Visitors • Deacons train Eucharistic Visitors. • If no deacon in congregation, another deacon in the same deanery can be contacted to provide this service.

27. Rules: Weddings • Deacons do not ordinarily officiate • A deacon may deliver the charge to the couple • May ask for the Declarations of Consent • May read the Gospel

28. Rules: Weddings (p. 2) • And may perform other assisting functions at the Eucharist. • Deacons, in extreme circumstances, may officiate at weddings • Bishop’s permission need in each circumstance

29. Rules: Weddings (p. 3) • Sacrament at weddings is led by the couple • No nuptial blessing! • No Eucharist/Communion! • Deacon should counsel the couple to seek a Nuptial Blessing a.s.a.p.

30. Rules: “Deacon’s Mass” • It does not exist; there’s no such liturgy. • In the absence of proper sacramental leadership, Morning Prayer is the appropriate service. • The BCP permits Deacons to be authorized to distribute Holy Communion from the reserved Sacrament. • Authorization must come from me on every occasion. • It will be given only on very rare occasions and under truly unique circumstances, never because of bad planning. • When authorized the service outlined on page 408 of the BCP will be followed.

31. Someone Is Going to Ask, “Why?” • Leading services confuses proper role • Distracts from proper exercise of ministries. • Deacons who feel called by God to lead services need to re-enter discernment for the presbyterate.

32. Q & A Time

33. The Roles of Licensed Lay Ministers

34. Ministry of All Baptized Persons • Title III, Canon 1: Of the Ministry of All Baptized Persons • Sec. 1. Each Diocese shall make provision for the affirmation and development of the ministry of all baptized persons, including: • (a) Assistance in understanding that all baptized persons are called to minister in Christ's name, to identify their gifts with the help of the Church and to serve Christ's mission at all times and in all places. • (b) Assistance in understanding that all baptized persons are called to sustain their ministries through commitment to life-long Christian formation.

35. “Lay Reader” • Defunct title • Former name for Worship Leader • Please stop using

36. Evangelist • Commonly assumed to a licensed ministry for laity. • Not in canons • Every Christian is suppoed to be an Evangelist!

37. Lector • Requires no license beyond the invitation of the rector of priest-in-charge. • Authorized to read lessons in liturgies. • Attention to voice, diction, and delivery are in order

38. Eucharistic Minister • Training customarily by or arranged by Deacon • Direction customarily from Deacon • Recommendation from Priest required • Licensed by Bishop for three years • Initial license may be less

39. Eucharistic Visitor • Part of congregational pastoral care team • Connects the absent to the community liturgy • Training by or arranged by Deacon • Oversight customarily from Deacon • Priest must recommend • Licensed by Bishop for three years • Initial license may be less

40. Preacher • A Preacher is a lay person authorized to preach. • May only preach under the direction of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight. • Training required • Licensed by Bishop in consultation with Commission on Ministry

41. Catechist • Catechists prepare persons for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and the Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows • They function under the direction of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight • Training required • Licensed by Bishop in consultation with Commission on Ministry

42. Pastoral Leader • A Pastoral Leader is a lay person authorized to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation under special circumstances, as defined by the Bishop. • Training? You betcha! • Supervised by Bishop or deputy

43. Worship Leader • A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. • Training required. • Licensed by Bishop • Granted in certain circumstances

44. We don’t have a priest! • Let’s get our deacon to

45. We don’t have a priest! • Let’s get our Deacon to lead the service • Deacons are not mini-priests waiting to pinch-hit when there’s no priest • Deacons assist, not lead • Enjoy Morning Prayer – anyone can lead

46. We want communion! • We do not fall from God’s grace if we do not have weekly communion • Try the spiritual exercise of finding grace in the Word and in prayer . . . • It’s not only in the sacraments

47. But we really want communion! • Let’s get our EM to lead the service and distribute reserved communion? • Not authorized by their license • How about a Worship Leader? • Not authorized by their license

48. But we can’t get a priest often enough and no other solution works . . . • Circumstances may compel • Deacons assist • Eucharistic Ministers assist • Priests lead • Worship Leaders lead • How to make this work?

49. What Does Work? • Bishop or Priest w/ or w/out Deacon • Worship Leader alone (non-communion services) • EM alone (MP only, as anyone) • Worship Leader assisted by EMs or Deacon (communion OK—special diocesan liturgy forthcoming)

50. When Can We Start? • Not yet! Wait for the word. • Liturgy in preparation • Right circumstances must prevail • Worship Leader(s) must be in place • EM(s) too, maybe Deacon