The Ministry of a Deacon

Deacons are members of one of three distinct orders of ordained ministry (with bishops and presbyters). In the Episcopal Church a deacon exercises “a special ministry of servanthood” directly under the deacon’s bishop, serving all people and especially those in need (BCP, p. 543). This definition reflects the practice of the early church, in which deacons were ordained “not to the priesthood but to the servanthood [diakonia, “ministry”] of the bishop” (Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition).

As a hospice nurse case manager and advanced illness nurse case manager I addressed the physical symptoms of people’s terminal or serious illness, but there was often no one to address the loneliness and isolation I also observed, and which touched my heart profoundly. I wondered what this call was that I felt was being placed on my heart and started to do a little research.

I found information about deacons posted on the Episcopal School for Deacons website that resonated with me: serving the poor, the sick, and the lonely.

I attended the Episcopal School for Deacons while keeping my full-time job and found a beloved community of people called to the diaconate for many different reasons. At the same time, I was supported by the diocesan process of discernment which walks with candidates to ordained ministry every step of the way. This helps the candidates to explore and define their call and steer them toward greater contemplation of ministry.

I would love to share my journey and what I have learned in the last 12 years beginning with the first stirrings in my heart to speaking with the Rev. Jeanne Forte and Bishop Barry Bisner to graduation and ordination with anyone who is interested and especially with anyone who may be having similar stirrings in their own heart.