The Diaconate

1
The Diaconate

• The Rev. Sue Burman
• The Rev. Mike Hackbarth
• The Rev. Anne Lang
• The Rev. Linda Schmidt

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Deacons

• Are a symbol of the Lord who serves
• Are distinctively called and ordained to work
  alongside others.
• Bring the needs of the world to the church and
  lead the church in its mission to the world.
• Also have a liturgical role alongside a priest or
  a bishop that reflects the relational nature of
  their ministry.

3
Diakonia and the Church

• The word "deacon" derives from the Greek word
  diakonia.
• Diakonia was a central concept to Jesus and the
  apostles
• The sacred order of deacons is the oldest
  ordained ministry.

4

• The Book of Acts tells us that the Apostles asked
  the community to "select from among yourselves
  seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit
  and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task,
  while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to
  prayer and to serving the world (Acts 63-4).
• The tasks of the new deacons included
• to be agents of social justice
• distribution of the food for the (minority) Greek
  widows and orphans.

5
Foundations of the Diaconate

• The New Testament accounts of the development of
  the orders of bishops and deacons in 1 Timothy
  31-13 and Philippians 11.
• Writings of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch

6
The Diaconate Obscured

• Throughout the Middle Ages, the diaconate
  remained obscured as a transitional step to
  priesthood.
• The sense of diakonia (service) also slipped away
• The most notable exception and symbol of diakonia
  during the Middle Ages was through "everybody's
  favorite saint," Francis of Assisi

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Famous Deacons

• St. Stephen
• In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen
  is described as one of the seven
• Stephen is described as "a man full of faith and
  of the Holy Spirit".
• As the author of Acts, Luke's description of
  Stephen bears direct parallels to that of Christ
• The Apostles laid hands upon Stephen and the
  seven as they began their calling to a different
  emphasis of ministry from the Apostles

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• Phoebe
• Phoebe is recognized as the first woman deacon,
  although we know little about her life.
• A deaconess of the Church at Cenchreae.
• St John Chrysostom praised Phoebe's work for the
  church as an inspiration and model for both men
  and women to imitate.

9

• St. Laurence
• Laurence was ordered to bring the treasures of
  the Church to the prefect.
• When asked where the treasure was Laurence
  replied, "These ARE the treasures of the Church."
  
• The prefect was furious and Laurence was ordered
  to be burnt to death on a gridiron.

10

• St. Francis of Assisi
• One of the best known of all the saints
• Following imprisonment, illness, and witnessing
  poverty, he began to visit the hospitals, serve
  the sick, give to the poor. One day he heard a
  voice telling him "Francis, go and repair my
  house".
• Francis' love of nature in all its forms as
  witnessing to the presence of God is probably the
  reason for his popularity today.

11
Formation of Deacons in Diocese of Fond du Lac

• Formation is governed by Church Canons
• Discernment process
• Deacon School for 3 years (weekends)
• Work with mentor
• Ordination after meetings with the Commission on
  Ministry and Standing Committee
• Assigned to parish by Bishop
• Non-stipend (nonpaid) clergy

12
The Ordination of a Deacon

• From the Book of Common Prayer Ordination of a
  Deacon
• 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.

13
The Ordination of a Deacon (cont.)

• 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. 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.

14
The Deacon in Today's World

• As parish deacons, who lead, model, and encourage
  the diaconal ministry of all the baptized.
• As institutional deacons, who work as chaplains
  in prisons, for law enforcement teams and
  firefighters, in hospitals, hospices, and in
  schools.
• As diocesan deacons, who work with and for
  bishops in a variety of staff and leadership
  roles.

15
The Deacon in Today's World

• To move ahead in this millennium the church will
  need called, dedicated, well-trained and
  passionate deacons
• to bring the word of Christ to all people,
• to interpret to the church the needs of the
  world, and
• to restore the early church's understanding of
  diakonia to all the baptized.

16
Stories from Deacons about their work

• Dn. Mary Lynn Adams-St. Annes, DePere
• Dn. Nancy Behm-Trinity, Oshkosh
• Dn. Michael Burg-Grace, Sheboygan
• Dn. Susan Burman-Holy Trinity, Waupun
• Dn. Susan Coenen-Trinity, Oshkosh
• Dn. Dillon Crager
• Dn. Georgeanne Cusic-St. Albans, Marshfield
• Dn. Arthur Good-St. Annes, DePere

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Stories from Deacons about their work

• Dn. Michael Hackbarth-Cathedral, Fond du Lac
• Dn. Samuel Hall
• Dn. Deborah Heckel-Holy Apostles, Oneida
• Dn. Dale Hutjens-St. Annes, DePere
• Dn. Walter Ives
• Dn. Jerome Kuehn-Christ the King Holy Nativity,
  Sturgeon Bay and Jacksonport
• Dn. Anne Lang-All Saints, Appleton

18
Stories from Deacons about their work

• Dn. Dutton Morehouse-St. Lukes, Sister Bay
• Dn. Evelyn Payson
• Dn. Edmund Powless-Holy Apostles, Oneida
• Dn. Pat Rudolph-St. Pauls, Marinette
• Dn. Linda Schmidt-Ascension St. Ambrose, Merrill
  and Antigo
• Dn. Greg Schultz-St. Peters, Sheboygan Falls
• Dn. Geoff Ward-St. Matthias, Minocqua
• Dn. Michele Whitford-Grace, Sheboygan

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