Policy Number:  2

Title:  Guidelines For Deacons In The Diocese

1. Deacons will function under the following principles of ministry, and in accordance with the Diocesan Vision and Mission Statements:

Deacons exist to call the whole community of Christ into its servant ministry. They are prophetic leaders who are called to challenge the Church to always look beyond itself.  

Applicants to the Diaconate need to have the character of a servant, and this character should be visible in the applicant's life and ministry. Ordination to the Diaconate is not a way to validate existing lay ministries, but a means of forming living icons who illuminate Christ as the model of servanthood to all the baptized. Deacons are not ordained to do the outreach ministry for the Church, but to lead others into servant ministry in the world.  

Deacons are under the authority of the Bishop and may be under the supervision of a Priest under whom they do their work. The liturgical functions of a Deacon are not a primary ministry, but are a part of a wider ministry in the Church:  

-      Serving all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely.

-      Interpreting to the Church the needs, concerns and hopes of the word.  

Deacons should be leaders who have a visible ministry to the dispossessed, willing to undertake the role of prophet, and strengthen the servant ministry of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Dakota.

This statement is the theological and practical context for the exercise of Diaconal ministry in the Diocese of South Dakota.

2. References and forms of Address for Deacons

These guidelines pertain to "deacons," not "transitional deacons."

Deacons are to be referred to simply as "deacons," not "vocational" or "permanent" deacons.  Persons who are in the process toward ordination to the priesthood should be referred to as "transitional" deacons after they are ordained as such.

The appropriate form of written address for a deacon is "The Rev. Deacon" before or after the person's name.

3. Relationship of Deacon to the Bishop

Traditionally, deacons serve immediately under the authority of the Bishop.  In South Dakota, deacons may be assigned by the Bishop to a congregation and serve under the direction of a priest, normally the rector, vicar, or in some cases the Dean of a region.  However, Deacons may be reassigned by the Bishop and continue to function as deacons.  Deacons will be expected to negotiate a written ministry agreement between themselves and the congregation in which they are serving, to be approved by the Bishop. Adjustments shall be made to the negotiated ministry agreement when there is a change of supervising priest.

4. Relationship of Deacon to Congregation and Priest

As required by canon law, a deacon assigned to a particular congregation is considered an "Assistant Minister" and as such, must resign should the rector resign his or her cure. The deacon may be reappointed by the bishop to serve during the interim under the direction of the Bishop and of the senior warden. Upon election of a new rector, the deacon's ministry agreement may be renegotiated or the Bishop may appoint the deacon to another congregation.

5. Ordination of Deacons

There should be one ordination of candidates to the Diaconate per year, preferably at the Bishop's Cathedral. It would be preferred that this ordination take place at a Eucharist on a day set by the Bishop as a day of ordination. It is important that the deacons be ordained at the Cathedral to show the unique relationship of the deacon to the Bishop.

It would then be appropriate that an adaptation of the rite of "Celebration of a New Ministry" be celebrated in the local congregations where the newly ordained deacons are to be assigned. Adaptations are available through the North American Association for the Diaconate, and will be available through the Bishop's office.

6. Conferences and Continuing Education

Deacons will be invited to participate in the annual diocesan Clergy Conferences and to other clergy educational and social gatherings. In addition to these, the Bishop and the Canon to the Ordinary will regularly design and offer conferences and continuing education events especially for deacons. These events will be at times that are convenient for the deacons to attend. Deacons will be expected to participate in continuing education and formation.

7. Mailings

There should be a separate mailing list for deacons to receive mailings particularly appropriate to them. Otherwise, deacons should be included in all diocesan mailings.

8. Covenants

Deacons and their supervising clergy shall together design and approve a position description, or Covenant, which will outline the specifics of the deacon's ministry in that place. The Bishop, or the Bishop's designee, shall approve such covenants. The Covenant should have the approval of the Vestry or the Bishop’s Committee as well and such approval should be included in the official minutes of the Vestry or Bishop’s Committee.

9. Clerical Dress

Clerical clothing is not the norm for deacons. However, such apparel may be worn under the following circumstances:

a.       When administering communion from the reserve sacrament to the sick and shut-in.

b.      For admission and recognition in hospitals, jails, other institutions, and in other ministries when appropriate.

c.       Under vestments during liturgical celebrations, and at events where such celebrations take place.

(Please note: deacons are not required to wear clerical attire, even should its wearing be authorized in the above circumstances. Ordinary street dress is the norm for deacons.)

 10. Deacons at Diocesan Convention

Deacons are considered clergy in canon law and are therefore eligible as clerical members of commissions and committees, clerical deputies to Provincial Synod and General Convention. They vote as clerical deputies when there is voting "by orders."

The deacons of the diocese are encouraged to vest and sit together in a specific place during liturgies as appropriate.

The Bishop may select a deacon to act as his aide during the Convention, sitting with the Bishop and other officers at the table on the podium, and assisting the Bishop in maintaining order during the Convention.

11. Liturgical Function of Deacons

1. The deacon takes his or her appropriate place along with the bishop (when present), the priest, other liturgical ministers, and the gathered laity. The deacon should:

                                               i.      Read the Gospel (to include carrying the Gospel book in procession and censing such book where this is the custom).

                                           ii.      Lead the Prayers of the People (or be responsible for the Ministry of Intercessions) and issue the invitation to the Confession of Sin.

                                          iii.      Prepare the Table and receive the gifts (cense altar party and people where this is the custom).

                                         iv.      Stand to the presider's side near the missal during the Great Thanksgiving (the deacon or a lay person may point the missal, depending which side it is on); raise the chalice at the designation and the phrase: "The gifts of God for the People of God."

                                           v.      Administer the chalice, assisted by additional chalice bearers when necessary. (These persons also assist the deacon in preparation and cleansing of these additional chalices.)

                                         vi.      Do the ablutions, assisted by other chalice bearers when necessary, either after communion or after the service altogether.

                                        vii.      Give the dismissal.

                                      viii.      Carry the Paschal Candle in processions.

                                         ix.      Lead the prayers of the candidates for baptism, confirmation, and reception at services of Christian Initiation.

                                           x.      Sing (or say) the "Lumen Christi" and the "exultet" at the Great Vigil of Easter.  

2. Preaching is part of the ministry of the deacon; and deacons are expected to preach regularly, although not necessarily frequently. The Diocese will provide opportunities for continuing education in the area of homiletics.

 

3. "Administration of Communion from the Reserved Sacrament" may only be performed by the specific authorization of the Bishop in extraordinary circumstances at the request of the deacon's supervising priest. Should such a liturgy be authorized, the deacon is to follow the rubrics on page 408 of the Book of Common Prayer for the distribution of communion from the reserved sacrament.  The norm for services of worship in the absence of a priest is Morning or Evening Prayer (see page 13 in the Book of Common Prayer).

 

4. The deacon may administer the reserved sacrament to the sick, shut-in, and others unable to attend the parish Eucharist when authorized by his or her supervising priest, or as provided for in the Deacon’s Ministry Covenant.

 

5. Deacons are to be significantly involved in the recruitment, training, and liturgical use of Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Lay Eucharistic Visitors.

 

6. Deacons should participate in the preparation of candidates for Holy Baptism and Confirmation, especially in regard to such candidates' intention to promise to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to strive for justice and peace among all people. The deacon may perform the water rite of the baptismal liturgy when there are many candidates to be baptized or when the deacon has been particularly involved in the preparation of a candidate for baptism.

 

7. At all diocesan liturgies deacons are to be given preference over transitional deacons, lay persons, priests, or bishops for those liturgical actions specifically assigned to deacons – reading the Gospel, leading the Prayers of the People, setting the Table, administering the Chalice (the rubric on page 408 of the Book of Common Prayer says that in the absence of sufficient deacons and priests, licensed lay people may assist in administering the Chalice), and giving the dismissal.

 REFERENCES

Howard E. Galley, The Ceremonies of the Eucharist. Cowley Publications, 1989.

Ormand Plater, Deacons in the Liturgy, (revised edition). Morehouse Publishing, 1992,

Plater, Many Servants, An Introduction to Deacons, Cowley Publications, 1991.