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St. Stephen Rocks! The history and tradition of deacons in the Church

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A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:24-27

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This is a description of “diakonia” which means “ministry” or “servanthood”

from “diakonia”

comes the words:

“deacon”

“diaconal”

“diaconate”

And Jesus continued to enact this way of life throughout his days.

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From the Acts of the Apostles:

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 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 word.” Acts 6:1-4

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What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. Acts 6:5

St. Stephen St.Philip

They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

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Some say these were the first deacons;others say they were apostles to the Hellenists

In any event, deacons soon appearedthroughout the Early Church.

In fact, we know that the order of deaconis the oldest of the orders of ordained ministry.

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Deacons appear in Scripture

• Romans 16:1-2I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.

• Philippians 1:1-2Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Qualifications for deacons in the Pastoral Epistles

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 the faith with a clear conscience. And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and 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. 1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12-13

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IgnatiusBishop of Antioch

martyred around 112

the three-fold understanding of ordained ministry

Bishops (episcopos – overseer) - unity with the Bishop is a symbol of unity with the one God

Presbyters (presbyteros – elders – later called “priests”) - representing the council of the apostles

Deacons (diakonos – ministers – agents – servants) - symbols of Christ

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Everyone must show the deacons respect.

They represent Jesus Christ, just as one bishop has the role of the Father, and the presbyters are like God’s council and an apostolic band. You cannot have a church without these. Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Trallians, 3

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The pattern in the Early Church

• Each congregation had its own bishop plus seven deacons

• The role of presbyter emerged later – first as elders in the community, and only later as “vicars” or representatives of the bishop – sent out into the outlying areas to serve the congregations there

• The order of deacon retained its own authority and integrity until the fourth century

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St. Laurence of Romedied August 10, 258

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Vincent of Saragossa

died January 22, 304

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Some deacons, like Athanasius of Alexandria, were elected bishop directly, without having served as priest.

Athanasius of Alexandria

Fourth Century defender of Nicene

orthodoxy

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Other Deacons in the calendar of saints

• Ephrem of Edessa (June 10) 4th century deacon, one of the fathers of the Syrian Orthodox Church; champion of the Nicene faith, biblical scholar, theologian, historian, hymn writer

• Alcuin of York (May 20) 8th century deacon, Abbot of Tours, teacher, librarian, tutor to Charlemagne, leading spirit of the Carolingian Renaissance; died in 804

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October 4

Died 1226

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More Deacons in the calendar

• Nicholas Ferrar (Dec 1) 17th century deacon; founder of Little Gidding community in Huntingtonshire in England; active in providing for the poor, operating a free school and a hospital.

• David Pendleton Oakerhater (Sept 1) 20th century deacon; Cheyenne warrior, converted while prisoner of war at St. Augustine, Florida; ordained after release in the Diocese of Central New York; served for years in Oklahoma Indian Territory; only American Indian in the Episcopal Calendar of Saints

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David Pendleton Oakerhater

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“You all know me. You remember when I led you out to war I went first, and what I told you was true. Now I have been away to the East and I have learned about another captain, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is my leader. He

goes first, and all he tells me is true. I come back to my people to tell you to go with me now in this new road, a war that makes all for peace.”

David Pendleton Oakerhater died 1931

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William West Skiles (1807-1862)

Levi Silliman IvesSecond Bishop of North Carolina

1831-1853

Church of St. John the BaptistValle Crucis

1862

Thomas AtkinsonThird Bishop of North Carolina

1853-1881

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Milnor Jones (1848-1916)Jones was outspoken, crusty, and cantankerous – qualities that delighted the bishop.

Deacon Jones “did not scruple on occasion to tell his bishop that the sermon

that the bishop had just preached ‘did no more good

than pouring water on a duck’s back.’”

He decided to remain a deacon and, in the words of his bishop, to make himself

“all things to the lowly whom he had chosen for his own.”

Thomas AtkinsonThird Bishop of North Carolina

1853-1881

Joseph Blount CheshireFifth Bishop of North Carolina

1893-1932

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Mary Sandys Hutton

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Thus, from the earliest days of the Church, deacons have been for us:

Servantsas signs and reminders of Christ’s own nature

Angelsmessengers

heralding the needs of the world to the Churchand heralding the gospel to the world

Agentsas catalysts; engaging the faithful in ministry;

linking the gathered community with the wider communityassisting with diocesan administration

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But something happened on the way to the Kingdom of God…

The diaconate began to be overshadowed

The priesthood became “omnivorous”

Holy Orders became “sequential” and “cumulative”

The diaconate lost its integrityand became an “inferior office”

Hierarchy grew to new heights.

The diaconate became transitional- a stepping stone or internship for the priesthood -

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The Recovery of Diakonia

19th Century Lutherans – “deaconesses” and “deacons” - to reawaken the servant ministry of the Church

Episcopal deacons ministered to Native Americans & ethnic groups

1950’s – the emergence of the “perpetual” deacons

“Deaconesses” ordained in the Episcopal Church

1962 – Vatican II restores the permanent diaconate

1968 – Lambeth commends the restoration of the diaconate throughout the Anglican Communion

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In all, there are nearly 3000 deacons in the Episcopal Church today

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So what is a deacon about in this day and age?

Servanthood

Heralding

Agency

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From the ordinalWhat is a deacon?

• “a special ministry of servanthood directly under your bishop”

• “to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely”

• “You are to study the Holy Scriptures, and to model your life upon them”

• “to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example”

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From the ordinalWhat is a deacon?

• “You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world”

• …to assist the bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God’s Word and Sacraments

• …to carry out other duties assigned to you from time to time

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From the ordinalWhat is a deacon?

• “At all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ’s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself”

• “As your Son came not to be served but to serve, may this deacon share in Christ’s service…”

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Deacons remind us about serving

ministry by serving in the

liturgy

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proclaiming the Gospel

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occasionally preaching

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introducing the confession

overseeing the intercessions

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preparing the table and the gifts

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standing along-side

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helping the bishop

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assisting in the administration of the sacraments

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doing the ablutions

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giving the dismissal – sending the people out into the world

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pouring the water at baptism

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carrying the Paschal Candle at the Easter Vigil

singing the Exsultet

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taking communion to the sick and coordinating the Eucharistic Visitors

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How to wear the stole – and why

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The Debate about Direct Ordination

RESOLVED: that this 106th Convention of the Diocese of Northern Michigan requests General Convention to adopt canonical revisions allowing bishops, with the consent of the Standing Committee, to ordain candidates for the priesthood directly to the priesthood.

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Why ordain?

• not to designate people to do serving ministry to us and on our behalf

• rather to be icons, living reminders,and animators of that serving ministry of Christ which we all share

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So that means that the reason we ordain deacons is precisely to raise up for all of us a living reminder that the Church is called out of herself and anything like a self-serving agenda.

We ordain deacons not so that we will have servants to serve us – but because we are a serving Church.

That’s who we are!

It’s a rare institution which exists solely for the sake of those who are not its own members.

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Service is something we all do.

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The deacons are in our midstalways reminding us who we are

as servants in the Name of Christ,

and encouraging us to sharein the serving ministry of Jesus.