Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2014 Issue | Page 7

Debunking the Myths about the Vocational Diaconate
Ed Keithly

Deacons are a ‘step-down’
from priests.

All deacons are on their way to
becoming priests.

A chaplain is a deacon.

This is the most prevalent myth
about deacons. Deacons are a unique
order with a unique call to serve the
poor, weak, sick and lonely. They are
called to and ordained for the special
responsibility of interpreting to the
Church the needs, concerns and hopes
of the world. In turn, deacons move the
Church to respond to those needs.

The transitional diaconate is a step
toward ordination as a priest, typically
lasting six months. On the other
hand, vocational deacons are formed
specifically for that order and will always
serve as deacons. Some in the Episcopal
Church believe that the transitional
diaconate harms the vocational
diaconate and petition General
Convention to end the practice, as it
perpetuates the idea that the diaconate
is a step toward the priesthood, rather
than a unique order.

Some deacons serve as chaplains, but
chaplaincy is not necessarily a diaconal
ministry. Chaplains do vital work,
typically in an institution like a hospital
or school in ministries such as one-onone service to the sick and seeing to the
welfare of the community. However, a
deacon’s ministry is to bring the Church
to know and serve the needs of an
underserved community. For example, a
deacon might educate her parish on the
needs of the local homeless community
and organize the parish to begin a
feeding ministry.

Deacons’ primary ministry is in
the liturgy.

Deacons are paid for their
ministry.

Deacons are called to parishes
just like priests.

The deacon’s role in the liturgy is
important, but the essential ministry
of the deacon is his work in the world.
During a service the deacon reads
the Gospel, sets the table and gives
the dismissal. Each of these roles
symbolizes the deacon’s role in the
world: to proclaim the Gospel, to be a
servant-leader to those in need and to
send the Church into the world to do
Christ’s work.

Deacons are not paid by the church
they are assigned to because a deacon
can’t be expected to be prophetic – to
speak hard truths about the Church
– if they are looking to the Church for
their livelihood. Some deacons work as
church professionals, but they exercise
their diaconal ministry somewhere
besides their workplace. For example,
the Rev. Deacon Ed Jones serves as the
secretary of the Diocese, but serves as
St. Mary’s, Colonial Beach’s deacon, and
the Rev. Deacon Holly Hanback serves
St. James’, Leesburg, as deacon but
works as the director of youth ministry
at St. David’s, Ashburn.

Deacons are assigned to a parish by
Bishop Johnston and serve directly
under his authority, whereas priests are
typically called by the parish to serve.
This is not to say that deacons are
assigned without considering the parish.
Bishop Johnston makes assignments
based on a number of factors, including
the needs of the parish, the particular
gifts of the deacon and proximity.
Deacons typically have a letter of
agreement signed by the deacon, the
bishop and the rector of the parish they
serve, outlining expectations about
how the deacon will carry out his or her
ministry in that parish.

Summer 2014 / Virginia Episcopalian

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