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The Ministry and Office of the Deacon “Notes Compiled By: Deacon Thomas G

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The Ministry and Office of the Deacon “Notes Compiled By: Deacon Thomas G The Ministry and Office of the Deacon “Notes compiled by: Deacon Thomas G. Moser, Spring 2002” (Adapted) Editor’s Note: Deacon Moser’s original title was: “The Ministry and Office of the Deacon and Deaconesses.” However, in order to avoid the cumbersome use of “his/her” and “Deacons/Deaconesses”, which are evidence in the original document of Deacon Moser’s high regard for being inclusive of men and women in all his references to Deacons, they have been changed in this shorter document to simply “his” and simply “deacon”, The reader needs always to understand that both the male and female gender deacon is included in the “his” and “deacon” unless a specific reference to either deaconal men or women is obvious from the text. The ECC+USA does not use the title, Deaconesses. The title Deacon applies equally to both men and women who have been ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon. In reference to dates, Deacon Tom used the new reference of C.E. (e.g., 1084 C.E.) meaning Common Epoch instead of the more common A.D. (e.g., 1084 A.D.) meaning Anno Domini, Year of the Lord. In this document, C.E. has been changed to A.D. This document has been shortened from 97 pages to the present 27 pages and some topics on the role of the Deacon at Mass and Divine Office have thus been left out. Some of Deacon Tom’s personal commentary and intellectual sense of humor remains. Read! Learn! Enjoy! +CTS 6/14/2003 Scripture Texts "Now during those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, 'it is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven persons 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 word.' What they said please the whole community...they had those persons stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them." Acts, Chapter 6 verses 1 through 6 "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops (overseer) and deacons : Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul's Letter to the Philippians Chapter 1 verses 1 and 2 "Deacons likewise must be serious, not double tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money: they must hold fast to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. And let them first be tested, then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. The women (Deaconesses) likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be married only once, and let them manage their households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." I Timothy Chapter 3 verses 8 through 13 Diakonia Diakonos Diakonissa The German Evangelical Catholic Church, which in The U.S.A., is called The Lutheran Church, always had Bishops, Pastors (who were called priests in areas of The German Empire which were predominately "Old" or "Roman" Catholic because The Pastor in those villages, towns, cities were the "Old" or "Roman" Catholic presbyter because Pastors had legal status in The German Empire, priests did not have legal status), Chaplains in charitable institutions - the military - The Universities, in the 19th Century A.D. re-instated The Office of Deacon and Deaconess. In so doing, the interpretation of the work of the deaconate was seen as service to the poor, the sick, the neglected and prisoners. This meaning of service, especially in the social care sense, is the assumption many make when referring to the deacon or deaconess as "a servant." In fact, The Evangelical Catholic Church in Germany's charitable works are called "diakonie" = service, while The Roman Catholic Church in Germany's charitable works are called "Caritas" = Charity The "diakonia" of service to the disenfranchised is something all members of The Christian Church perform to each other and to the disenfranchised who are not part of The Christian Church. When early Christians called someone "Deacon" or "Deaconess" the early Christians were thinking of a person who acted in three related and often overlapping groups of meaning which was much more than just "service" that all Christians are called to perform. 1. The deaconal person conveyed "message," acted as a go-between, a courier who travels from place to place and conveys goods or carries messages from persons in "high places" - The Divine to human beings and vice-versa - who carries Sacred Words as a herald, who interprets the words of others, who intervenes on an important mission, who mediates through writing, who stirs the emotions through singing. 2. The deaconal person acted as "an agent," instruments, or medium who conducts an operation, acts on behalf of others, carries out the desires or commands of a superior, implements another's plan, performs civic duties and undertakings, gets done whatever needs to be done, functions within a special system like a tutor, butler, major domo, general secretary, or important functionary. 3. The deaconal person acted as "an attendant" who attends to a person or household, fetches objects and persons, cares for the needs of a guest, and on formal, religious occasions bears the wine cups and conducts the feast with decency and taste. What can one say about The Deaconal Ministry in the light of the ancient and modern understanding of the words? Deacons are ministers in three special ways: a. Agents and Personal Attendants of The Bishop b. Heralds of The Word c. Servants of The Poor Prototypes of the Deaconal Office The word "deacon" was used in classical Greek to describe an official of a cult, but fuller examination of the "official's" duties described a waiter, a handsome 'boy" attendant or a cook of sacrificial meals. In the synagogue, there was the 'hazzan' whose liturgical duties were similar to those of the deacons, but the 'hazzan' had no pastoral or sacramental duties. The Jewish communities also had a "collector of alms" but this person had no liturgical duties. During The Middle Ages as the deaconal office became merely a "stepping stone" to the priesthood, The Church viewed the deacons as counterparts to The Levites of The Temple. Most modern scholars, however, view The Levitical Office Holders as the temple doorkeepers, the carriers of sacred items, the keepers of the animals for sacrifice, the choir singers. Although some similarities of function existed in ancient Judaism and Paganism, The Office of Deacon and Deaconess has no direct antecedents and appears to have developed totally within The Christian Church as a special ministry of service. The Development of Deaconal Duties Pre-Council of Nicea 95 A.D. Possibly, constitute with the bishops the ruling council in some churches. "You must, then, elect for yourselves bishops and deacons who are a credit to the Lord, who are gentle, generous, faithful, and well tried...You must not despise them...they enjoy a place of honor among you." The Didache, Chapter 15 In Ignatius' Letters, one sees the local church ruled by a council of presbyters ( and possibly deacons) presided over by the bishop. The Ignatian Letters, #142 Polycarp mentions that the people must be "obedient to the presbyters and deacons" who together may have compromised the ruling council at Philippi. Polycarp's 5th Letter to the Philippians 96 A.D. Administers the distributions of alms to the poor. "The ones that are spotted are deacons who served badly and plundered the living of widows and orphans, and made profit for themselves from the ministry they had accepted to perform." The Shepherd of Hermas Parable 9.26.2 115A.D. Symbolize Jesus Christ. "Correspondingly, everyone must show the deacons respect. They represent Jesus Christ..." Ignatius, Trallians #3 115A.D. Be the servants of the Church. "Those too who are deacons of Jesus Christ minister to God's Church." Ignatius, Trallians #2 115 A.D. Functions liturgically at Eucharist. "Be careful, then. to observe a single Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup of his blood that makes us one, and one altar, just as there is one bishop along with the presbytery and the deacons..." Ignatius, Philadelphians #4 150 A.D. Take Eucharistic Bread and Wine to the absent. "When the president has given thanks and the whole congregation has assented, those whom we call deacons give to each of those present a portion of the consecrated bread and wine and water, and they take it to the absent." The First Apology of Justin the Martyr 65 1.286 200 A.D. Be the "eye" of the bishop in all matters but especially in discovering the pastoral needs of the people; keep order in the Christian meetings; and report the sick to the congregation for their visits and help. "Moreover let the deacons of the church, going about with intelligence, be as eyes of the bishop, carefully inquiring into the doings of each member of the church...Let them check the disorderly, that (the faithful) may not desist from assembling...And let them learn who are suffering under bodily disease, and let them bring them to the notice of the multitude who do not know of them, that they visit them and supply their wants according to the judgment of the president...These things, then, and things like these, let the deacons attend to." The Epistle of Clement to James, 12 200 A.D.
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