Welcome to the Deacon blog!
The Church of England has a secret. There are two types of deacons. ‘Type A’ is the one we’re familiar with: curates are ordained deacon for their first year, then usually ordained priest. However, there are some of us who are convinced that God calls us to remain deacons, and inhabit and develop a diaconal ministry.
‘Distinctive’ Deacons (or ‘Type B’ deacons, if you like) in the Church of England are forward-looking, outward-reaching, community-minded and missional. Although we are deeply-rooted in the church, as we have been since the days of Acts 6, the focus and range of our ministry takes place outside the church in the community, and on the margins of church and society. Issues of justice and poverty are dear to us.
Our vocation and ministry are not well understood by the Church of England in general, and there are very few resources for deacons, who can find themselves isolated and lacking in support. The DEACON blog sets about redressing this situation, by creating, finding and sharing news, resources, stories, reflections, poems and reports. We also take a sideways glance at what other denominations do with their deacons.
I hope you find this blog useful and informative, and I welcome comments, contributions and suggestions. Views expressed are the deacons’ own.
“Deacons: Holy Stirrers, dancing on the edges of the Church, facing outwards, building bridges, taking church to the community, to people who don’t usually encounter it and taking the community to the church, encouraging the baptized to carry out their ministry.”
“From the time of Jesus there has been Diaconal ministry – crossing seas, borders, cultures and denominations … wherever a need is seen, diaconal ministry rises up to serve. The question is not if the Diakonia fits within the Church or whether we still need this ministry, but whether the Church could exist without it.”(from New Zealand Methodist deacons)
Rev Deacon Gill Kimber (Editor)
Warden of the College of St Philip the Deacon
You can reach me at this email: deacons@tutanota.com
I also tweet @WardenGill
Church of England website: scroll down for ‘distinctive deacons’ https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/vocations/whats-your-calling/called-ministry#na
Diocese of Exeter diocesan (distinctive) deacons’ web page: http://exeter.anglican.org/ministry/vocations/diocesan-deacons/
