Deacon’s Customary Diocese of Oregon Table of Contents Vision for the Diaconate – Association for Episcopal Deacons ..................................................... 4 Purpose of Customary ..................................................................................................................... 4 The Relationship between the Bishop and the Deacons ................................................................. 4 Diaconal Access to the Bishop ................................................................................................... 4 Reporting to the Bishop .............................................................................................................. 5 Archdeacon(s) ............................................................................................................................ 5 Obligatory Attendance ............................................................................................................... 5 Deacons and Diocesan Governance ........................................................................................... 5 Deacons in Service to the World: Social Service Ministries in the Community ............................ 5 Deacons in Service to the Church: The Parochial Assignment ...................................................... 5 Congregational Preparation ........................................................................................................ 6 Letter of Agreement ................................................................................................................... 6 The Priest/Deacon Relationship ................................................................................................. 6 The Deacon’s Time Commitment .............................................................................................. 6 Other Covenant Hours ................................................................................................................ 6 Family Members......................................................................................................................... 7 Deacons in the Liturgy ............................................................................................................... 7 Regular Functions....................................................................................................................... 7 Additional Duties ....................................................................................................................... 7 Preaching .................................................................................................................................... 7 Clerical Attire ............................................................................................................................. 7 Liturgical Acknowledgement of a Deacon’s Service ................................................................. 7 Special Liturgical Occasions........................................................................................................... 8 Serving with the Bishop ............................................................................................................. 8 Holy Baptism .............................................................................................................................. 8 Holy Matrimony ......................................................................................................................... 8 Ministration to the Sick .............................................................................................................. 8 Burial of the Dead ...................................................................................................................... 8 The Daily Offices ....................................................................................................................... 8 Communion from the Reserved Sacrament................................................................................ 9 Blessings ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Financial Status ............................................................................................................................... 9 Leaves ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Sabbatical ................................................................................................................................. 10 Leave of Absence ..................................................................................................................... 10 Inactive Status .......................................................................................................................... 10 Deacons Assigned to Congregations in Times of Transition........................................................ 10 Deacon Role During Transition ............................................................................................... 11 Responsibility of Wardens ....................................................................................................... 11 Assignment of Interim, Priest-in-Charge or Rector ................................................................. 11 Deacon Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 11 Practicing a Rule of Life .......................................................................................................... 11 Tithing ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Clergy Collegiality ................................................................................................................... 11 Continuing Education ............................................................................................................... 11 Relocation ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Retirement ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Retirement Letter ...................................................................................................................... 12 Church Attendance ................................................................................................................... 12 Expectations upon Retirement.................................................................................................. 12 Forms of Clerical Address ............................................................................................................ 13 A Deacon’s Charge ....................................................................................................................... 13 CUSTOMARY FOR DEACONS VisionEPISCOPAL for the Diaconate DIOCESE – Association OF forOREGON Episcopal Deacons “A deacon is a baptized person called and empowered by God and the Church to be a model of Christ’s servant ministry for all people. As agents of God’s compassion and reconciling grace, deacons are missionaries to the world and messengers to the Church of the world’s need, hopes, and concerns. In the Church, deacons call forth, empower, and inspire the baptized to respond to those needs. The role of the deacon in liturgy mirrors this role of the deacon in Church and world. Deacons are living symbols of Christ’s presence as they embody Christ’s servant ministry and point to the presence of Christ in those they serve.” (Association for Episcopal Deacons) Purpose of Customary This Customary is written to clarify the role of deacons as ordained ministers in service to the world and to the church, and to communicate the ways in which deacons will function and be supported in the Diocese of Oregon. These customs shall be regarded and observed in this diocese by lay persons, bishops, and presbyters as well as deacons. The information herein was created by a team of deacons in the Diocese including the Rev. Peg Bernhard, Rev. Mimi Eick, Rev. Linda Goertz, Rev. Maureen Hagen, Rev. Laurel Hart, Rev. Julie Jensen, and the Ven. Carter Hawley presented with the approval of Bishop Michael Hanley, current Bishop of the Diocese of Oregon, and is guided by the vision statement of the Association for Episcopal Deacons, with reference to customaries from several other dioceses. The Relationship between the Bishop and the Deacons Deacons serve immediately under the authority and the pastoral leadership of the bishop. The bishop assigns a deacon to a congregation after consultation with the deacon, the archdeacon(s), and the member of the clergy exercising oversight at the proposed assignment. For simplicity, in this document, the term priest is used for all priests leading a parish, whether s/he is considered a rector, vicar, or priest in charge. At a parish, the priest oversees and coordinates the day-to-day activities of the deacon’s parochial ministry. The bishop may also assign a deacon to a non- parochial ministry, (Title III, Canon 7.4). In these instances, the deacon is still answerable to the bishop, but oversight and coordination of particular job responsibilities are governed by organizational structure. Diaconal Access to the Bishop Though the archdeacons are responsible