The Diaconate
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Deacon is a role in the Christian Church
which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which
varies widely among theological and denominational traditions.
The word deacon (and deaconess) is derived from the Greek word “diakonos” (διάκονος), which is often translated as “servant” (or more specifically, “waiter”). The office of deacon originated with the selection of seven men (among them St. Stephen) to assist with the pastoral and administrative needs of the very early church (Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6) and you’ll find a Biblical description of the qualities required of a deacon in 1 Timothy, chapter 3 8–13.
The diaconate is one of the three ordained offices of the Anglican (and Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) Church; the other two ordained offices being priest and bishop. Unlike Roman Catholic deacons, Anglican deacons are permitted to marry freely both before and after ordination (as are Anglican priests).
In our Anglican Church, deacons act at the bishop’s discretion; often working directly in ministry to the marginalized inside and outside the church; the poor, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned.
Many deacons are preparing for priesthood, however, there are also many who are called specifically to the diaconate and deacons routinely assist parish priests in their pastoral and administrative duties (and they have a distinctive role in the liturgy; their most visible tasks being the reading of the Gospel and assisting in the administration of the Eucharist). Anglican deacons may baptize and solemnize matrimony, but don’t preside at the Eucharist, absolve sins nor pronounce a blessing (however, these last two are oft permitted in an indirect form).
Okay, I know, you really just want to know why deacons wear their stoles over their left shoulders and fastened at the right side of the waists. Well, we have to leave a little mystery…
The word deacon (and deaconess) is derived from the Greek word “diakonos” (διάκονος), which is often translated as “servant” (or more specifically, “waiter”). The office of deacon originated with the selection of seven men (among them St. Stephen) to assist with the pastoral and administrative needs of the very early church (Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6) and you’ll find a Biblical description of the qualities required of a deacon in 1 Timothy, chapter 3 8–13.
The diaconate is one of the three ordained offices of the Anglican (and Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) Church; the other two ordained offices being priest and bishop. Unlike Roman Catholic deacons, Anglican deacons are permitted to marry freely both before and after ordination (as are Anglican priests).
In our Anglican Church, deacons act at the bishop’s discretion; often working directly in ministry to the marginalized inside and outside the church; the poor, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned.
Many deacons are preparing for priesthood, however, there are also many who are called specifically to the diaconate and deacons routinely assist parish priests in their pastoral and administrative duties (and they have a distinctive role in the liturgy; their most visible tasks being the reading of the Gospel and assisting in the administration of the Eucharist). Anglican deacons may baptize and solemnize matrimony, but don’t preside at the Eucharist, absolve sins nor pronounce a blessing (however, these last two are oft permitted in an indirect form).
Okay, I know, you really just want to know why deacons wear their stoles over their left shoulders and fastened at the right side of the waists. Well, we have to leave a little mystery…