Role of Deacons

Welcome to the Diaconate, 101. Carrie English, one of our most active deacons, and Roy Lima, our newest deacon, and I are pleased to have an opportunity to speak to you today about the diaconate.

My job is to give you some basic information regarding deacons in general. I suspect there are people in your congregations whom God may be calling to the diaconate, people who are already committed to specific areas of ministry in the world, people who are servants. Our bishop is supportive of the authentic diaconate. I am so thankful for that and hope that today we will inspire you to recognize diaconal candidates in your congregations.

Bishops, priests and deacons are, of course, basically lay people who have been ordained for special duties that assist the community in worshipping and in finding ways to use the gifts God has given them to "grow" God's kingdom on earth

The difference in priests and deacons is not about power; it is about function. You know that in the liturgy deacons are linked especially to the people in the pew – we read the Gospel to the community; we lead the Prayers of the People; we assist the Priest as the Eucharist is prepared and distributed to the people; and we proclaim the dismissal – sending the people out to do the work of the church in the world. The priest's main responsibility is to the church community in the more prayerful, liturgical, administrative and authoritative functions. The deacon's main responsibility is to the community outside the church.

Bishop Alexander of Atlanta, in speaking to a group of deacons, said he once saw a painting of a lineman connecting two wires, bringing them together, using his own body as a conduit. This, he said, is the deacon's function – to connect people to ministries, assisting them in whatever way necessary, and to keep the church informed of ministry opportunities in the world.

A deacon's ministry then, at its best, enables others to use their gifts to assist the needy, and to help them by example to understand our Lord's great redemptive love - it is about leading folks out of the church into the world to serve Christ in all persons - and it is fruit-bearing when it is able to accomplish this in some measure.

Regarding my own ministry as a deacon, I have been most active in Hospice, Habitat, HIV/Aids ministry, have worked with abused women, have led various retreats regarding spirituality, ministry, gifts, and teachings of various Christian leaders. I have always enjoyed my liturgical duties, but my main ministry has been to help people in crisis of many kinds. In all these areas I have been fortunate, with God's help, to equip and encourage members of various congregations to actively bring Christ's love to the world.