The making of deacons: a pyramid scheme

Recently I read a lovely newsletter from a diocese about the ministry of deacons.   I was asked the questions: "...what we can do to identify deacons in our midst? How might we encourage younger vocations? deacons from underrepresented communities?" These are all very important tasks but I contend that some of these tasks have been hindered by a missing component in the process, namely participation on the part of bishops and priests in encouraging and educating their parishes.

I think it is important for deacons to model their ministries in the parish, not only to potential deacons but to everyone in the parish. But it is here we get into a chicken and egg situation.

In order to enable deacons to functionally model their ministry to a parish, there must actually be deacons in a parish. Secondarily there must be support at the parish level from the priest. Thirdly there must be support at the diocesan level by the bishop. Finally there must be support from diocesan and national diaconal organizations.

The basis of this whole chain is the requirement that the bishop find the deacon in him/her self and proclaim loudly the ministry and need for deacons. I think we all know that in the past the proliferation of deacons has been hindered in some dioceses by bishops who simply did not see the reason to have deacons. The bishop needs to actively support education of all orders on the ministry of deacons, and to identify and educate those priests and parishes who are either overtly or covertly disdainful of the ministry of those called to be deacons. At the same time the bishop must be an active pastor to existing deacons, not just on a deacon's day with the bishop but finding time to listen to their concerns and support them at the diocesan level. I emphasize that it is the responsibility of the bishop because no matter how much the bishop delegates to their appointed archdeacons, the support of the bishop is key.

Once that support is there then it is the responsibility of the deacon in the parish with the full support of the priest and parish to find and encourage lay ministries and in doing so identify those who have a calling to become deacons themselves.

Sound a bit like a pyramid scheme? Yup. From the bishop on down we must hear the call to evangelize, the call to make disciples in every way and actively encourage the sending of those disciples into the world.

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