By Bishop Michael Rinehart
You may recall that at our last Churchwide Assembly, in 2016, we voted to move the three lay rosters of Associates in Ministry, Deaconesses and Diaconal Ministers, into one roster called Deacon. We would now have two rosters: Pastors are Ministers of Word and Sacrament. Deacons are Ministers of Word and Service. The decision regarding the entrance rite for deacons was left for this assembly, in 2019. A discernment team was commissioned.
The Members of the Entrance Rite Discernment Group included:
- The Rev. Robert Driesen and Bishop Mark Narum, co-chairs
- Bishop James Dunlop
- Sister Elizabeth Colver, Deacon
- Cynthia Gustavson (Church Council representative)
- The Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kleinhans
- Deacon Dr. Lake Lambert
- John Litke (lay leader)
- Susan McArver
- Deacon Louise Williams
Churchwide Office staff included Krista Anderson, Chris Boerger, Kevin Strickland, Greg Villalon, with Kathryn Johnson serving as ecumenical consultant and Julia Vega providing administrative support.
You can read the entire report HERE, but I’ll cut to the chase. When the smoke cleared, the group had decided deacons would be “ordained,” not “consecrated.”
It may be easiest to answer all the question around this decision with a FAQ or Q&A. Here goes:
What is a deacon?
Following Acts 6, a deacon is a Minister of Word and Service. Deacons lead the church’s service to the world, through a host of activities, serving as music ministers, administrators, youth workers, and more. Deacons are trained professional leaders in the church, much like pastors, but without the sacraments.
Deacons live out a life of prophetic diakonia that gives particular attention to the suffering places in God’s world, equip the baptized for ministry in God’s world in ways that affirm the gifts of all people, and are grounded in a gathered community for ongoing diaconal formation (7.61.02.). Those called as deacons thus proclaim the Word of God to the world and interpret the needs of the world to the church in ways that equip the baptized in their vocation of loving and serving the neighbor.
Do deacons have a role in liturgy as a worship leader?
Many do. As early as the second century, deacons assumed certain liturgical duties in worship, although the specific functions varied greatly over time and place. These wide-ranging responsibilities included assistance in the distribution of the Eucharis, assisting in baptisms, taking the Eucharist to those absent from the service, and even preaching. Deacons also read the Epistle and Gospel, made announcements, gave instructions during the liturgy, presented the offertory, led bidding prayers, and dismissed the congregation at the end of the service. Almost 2,000 years later, many of these duties remain an important part of the deacon’s responsibilities in some Christian traditions.
Liturgical renewal in the 20th century brought a welcome re-emphasis on the participation of the laity in worship leadership, and laity now often assist in many congregations with the responsibilities formerly conducted by deacons. With the formation of the new deacon roster, congregations may wish to consider inviting deacons to serve alongside the laity in some form of worship leadership, providing yet another opportunity to highlight the intersections of church and world, while additionally lifting up and recognizing both ancient and contemporary practice.
Will deacons preside at Holy Communion?
No. Well, only in cases of emergency. The ministry of word and sacrament and the ministry of word and service are distinct offices with different and yet complementary calls and responsibilities. Those called and ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament proclaim the word of God within the gathered community, baptize, and preside at the table for the sake of the gospel. Those called and consecrated or ordained to the ministry of word and service proclaim the word of God to the world and the world to the church in ways that equip the baptized in their vocation of loving the neighbor.
As stated in the constitution of the ELCA, ministers of word and sacrament “administer the sacraments (C9.03.a.2).” Thus, deacons do not hold that responsibility. Since Christian marriage is not understood to be a sacrament, but rather a rite of the church closely connected to the civil realm, state laws define who may preside at weddings. These laws vary greatly from state to state.
Will deacons preside over weddings and funerals?
Funerals provide the Christian community, having been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, an opportunity to express its faith and hope in the face of death. While there are no specific guidelines as to who may preside at a funeral apart from presidency at the sacrament of Holy Communion, pastors “conduct public worship” (C.9.03. a.3) and “bury the dead” (c.9.03.b.1). Since both pastors and deacons are called to proclaim the word of God, and both pastors and deacons have traditionally served leadership roles in the community’s liturgy, it may be appropriate for pastors and/or deacons to preside at funerals depending upon the circumstances and community’s understanding.
Will deacons preach?
Yes, as they already do. Recall in Acts 6, Stephen, the first deacon preached. (And it cost him his life!)
What does “ordained” mean?
Ordained, consecrated and commissioned are all words that have roughly the same meaning: to be set apart for a special purpose or calling. Different churches, in different times have used these words to denote the “calling” of individuals, and setting them apart through prayer and the laying on of hands. The rite for ordaining deacons will look very much like the rite for commissioning them did?
When will this rite be available?
A draft for interim use will be coming out soon. It will be official early next year.
What will be the symbols of this office?
The Entrance Rite Discernment Group’s recommendation was the presentation of both a deacon’s stole and a cross at the entrance rite for ministers of Word andService.
What is a deacon’s stole?
A deacon’s stole is a stole that is worn diagonally, as shown in this photo. The stole that Mary Lee Mimms (second from the left) is wearing is a deacon’s stole.
Will deacons be considered lay people?
No. They will be ministers. They will be counted as clergy, and not as laity in positions on committees and in representative assemblies.
Will current deacons be required to pursue new education?
No.
Will current deacons have to be ordained?
No. Those already commissioned or consecrated have already been entranced into the ministry of Word and Service. Ordination, commissioning and consecration are all valid and appropriate “entrance rites” for those entering into public ministry in the church. Since those already on the Roster of Ministers of Word and Service have already “entered” the roster, no further rite is necessary. All deacons, both those already on the roster and those who will enter in the future, may rightly utilize the symbols recommended and deemed most appropriate.
Is there a change in what deacons can do? (Weddings, funerals, etc.)
No.
Will deacons be eligible for the housing tax exemption?
The current answer to the question is no—changing an entrance rite does not have tax implications. However, tax laws are always changing, being reinterpreted, and applied to differing circumstance, such that any definite answer today could soon be overruled in the legislature or the courts tomorrow. Additionally, whether a change in the entrance rite might have an effect on the application of federal tax laws to deacons should never be a factor in the decision to change the rite. Selection of the appropriate religious rite is a matter for the church, based upon doctrine, tradition and other ecclesiastical judgments, not on whether certain individuals may benefit or be burdened by the tax code. Based upon what functions the ministers of word and service, as a group, are expected to perform, ordaining them will not change their status under the Internal Revenue Code relative to the housing allowance or the Self-Employment Contributions Act.
What did Martin Luther say about the diaconate?
By Martin Luther’s day, the office of deacon in the Roman Catholic Church served primarily as a transitional stepping-stone on the way to the priesthood. Deacons held responsibilities for some elements of liturgical leadership but not for service to the poor. By the 16th century, monastics, not deacons, had long assumed the role as chief dispensers of charity in the local community. When the Reformation brought an end to monastic orders in the new Protestant churches, it unintentionally caused disruption to the organized charity system of Western Europe.
Partially to address this need, Luther proposed that the diaconate return to its ancient roots. Not only would such a re-establishment of the diaconate free pastors to concentrate on preaching the word of God and administering the sacraments, argued Luther, it would also return the office to something closer to what he understood as its original intent. Luther wrote: “The diaconate is the ministry, not of reading the Gospel and the Epistle, as is the present practice, but of distributing the church’s aid to the poor, so that the priests may be relieved of the burden of temporal matters and may give themselves more freely to prayer and the Word. For this was the purpose of the institution of the diaconate, as we read in Acts.” (The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, 1520).
What language do our global Lutheran partners use for setting apart those in diaconal ministry?
Many of our global Lutheran partners have studied questions related to the ministry of deacons in recent decades. In 2002, a group convened by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) around the theme “Prophetic Diakonia—For the Healing of the World” affirmed that diakonia is central to what it means to be church. The group’s report concluded: “As a ministry, (diakonia) should be fully integrated into the church’s ordained, consecrated and commissioned ministries, as a reflection of the fundamental significance of diakonia for the being of the church.”
The LWF convened another consultation in 2005 titled “The Diaconal Ministry in the Mission of the Church.” The final statement of the consultation advocated for ordaining those called to this ministry as a way of demonstrating that the diaconate is an integral part of the one public ministry of the church.
The document Diakonia in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment— An LWF Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Diakonia was published in 2009 and advocates for churches to re-examine how they order ministry and to include the diaconate in their public expression of ministry in ways that are appropriate for their context.
It would be difficult to examine all those contexts here and to explain all the nuances of language and culture around the world; we provide some diverse examples from our global Lutheran partners.
- Brazil—Since 1992, The Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil has ordained diaconal ministers as one of four ordained ministries. The others are pastors, catechists and evangelists.
- Canada—The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada sets apart diaconal ministers through a rite of consecration.
- Estonia—The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church counts deacons as one of three orders of the one ordained ministry of the church.
- Germany—The Lutheran churches in Germany ordain deacons (both men and women). There are still communities or sisterhoods of deaconesses who use consecration as their entrance rite.
- Iceland—The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland has prepared and ordained deacons since 1993.
- Indonesia—The Huria Kristen Batak Protestant has ordained deaconesses since 1983.
- Norway—The liturgical rite authorizing deacons in the Church of Norway uses a Norwegian word that does not correspond with ordination or consecration but is a more general term to include authorization of all orders of ministry—priest, deacon, bishop.
- Sweden—The Church of Sweden ordains deacons.
- Tanzania—Several dioceses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania have deaconesses who are consecrated.
What language do our ecumenical partners use for setting apart those in diaconal ministry?
The ELCA is in full-communion with six partner churches. While each of these churches uses the term “deacon” to describe those who focus in some way on ministries of service, only the United Methodist and Episcopal churches have deacons who are understood as roughly parallel to those in the ELCA. Each church defines the ministry of deacons in different ways and has its own practices of preparation and entrance into that ministry.
- In The United Methodist Church, deacons are considered ordained United Methodist clergy.
- The Episcopal Church ordains deacons. The Episcopal Church has roles for both permanent deacons and “transitional” deacons, who are serving as deacons temporarily before entering into the priesthood.
- The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ordains deacons, who hold primary responsibility for the church’s “ministry of compassion.”
- Congregations of the Reformed Church in America elect and ordain deacons who lead the congregation in “ministries of mercy, justice, service and outreach.”
- In the United Church of Christ, deacons are laypeople elected by their congregation. Local churches may ordain deacons and other leaders for service in the local congregation only.
- The Moravian Church in America ordains deacons as one of the three traditional orders of ministry (deacon, presbyter, bishop). One first serves as a deacon for three to five years before becoming a presbyter.
Why would a community decide to call a rostered deacon?
Deacons are distinctive in their formation and vocational identity, so that they understand their work to embody public witness to the place of diakonia in the church’s life:
- they are formed to prepare, inspire and lead the entire community they serve in its ministry of service;
- they are supported by and accountable to churchwide standards and commitments, as well as to synod and local accountabilities in the place they serve; and
- they have responsibility and opportunity for broader engagement in ecumenical ministerial and ecclesial relationships.
Do the synods offer compensation guidelines for minsters of word and service as they do for ministers of word and sacrament?
A survey of synods reveals that 94 percent of the synods responding do have some compensation guidelines for ministers of word and service. These guidelines vary by geographic region, as do the guidelines for ministers of word and sacrament. Because ministers of word and sacrament are eligible for a housing allowance, the guidelines vary between the two rosters in the majority of synods. Twelve percent of the synods are utilizing the same guidelines for the two rosters. The challenge is that the roles deacons hold vary widely: teaching, finance, youth ministry, administration, etc. A deacon serving as a youth worker will likely not be compensated the same as a deacon who is a hospital CEO.
What were the Actions Recommended by The Entrance Rite Discernment Group?
The Entrance Rite Discernemtn Group recommended the ELCA:
- establish the rite of ordination as the entrance rite for deacons entering the roster of Ministers of Word and Service;
- define the symbols of this ministry as a deacon’s stole and a cross, both to be presented at the entrance rite;
- direct the worship staff of this church to develop an appropriate rite and rubrics for the ordination of deacons;
- direct the worship staff of this church to share information about the appropriate use of the deacon stole and to facilitate a conversation among deacons regarding a unified cross design;
- charge the secretary of this church with proposing appropriate amendments to the Constitutions, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA that will ensure that at least 60 percent of the members of its assemblies, councils, committees, boards, and other organizational units shall be persons who are not on the rosters of Ministers of Word and Service or Ministers of Word and Sacrament;
- review the ELCA candidacy process for appropriate modifications as necessary;
- charge the secretary of this church with considering and proposing possible amendments to the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA to accomplish its recommendations;
- call upon this church to increase opportunities for lifting up, recognizing, fostering and encouraging recognition of deacons for the mission and witness of the church in the world;
- continue funding for transition events and ongoing leadership and formation events to ensure growth and understanding of the roster of Ministers of Word and Service;
- continue the preparation of appropriate and informative materials for the church’s ongoing study; and
- refer the resulting amending/amended documents to the 2019 Churchwide Assembly for approval as necessary.
You can read the full report of the Entrance Rite Discernment group HERE.
As members of the ELCA, we believe in a liberating God who frees us to be bold in our witness and generous in our sharing with the world for the sake of the Gospel.
Sunday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.
The synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team invites you to explore Sheldon Lake State Park through nature journaling, led by master naturalist Irmi Willcockson. “Nature journaling is your path into the exploration of the natural world around you, and into your personal connection with it.” Leslie and Roth, 2000. This introduction is for all ages, and supplies will be provided. We’ll meet at the Sheldon Lake State Park Visitor Center to distribute supplies and provide simple instructions. We’ll go out and journal for about 30 min, then gather back at the visitor’s center to reflect. NOTE: There is plenty to see within feet of the visitor center, no hiking required. Sheldon Lake State Park is located at 14140 Garrett Rd. in Houston. To provide adequate supplies for all attendees, please contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com if you plan to participate.
Join the synod Lutherans Restoring Creation bike team for the family-friendly Park to Port ride benefitting Hermann Park in Houston. The ride begins at the park, and is 20 miles round trip, with a stop for food/drink/fun at the midway point. The ride features a rolling start from 7:30 – 9 a.m. and the post-ride party continues until noon. Kids 10+welcome. Join the fun and care for God’s good creation! Register for the ride at: 
The synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2019 is environmental issues, and what you can do. In November, Lisa Brenskelle, head of the synod team, will discuss the U.N.’s Global Environmental Outlook, a report issued earlier this year, and how faith enables our response to the ecological crisis. Lisa will address: What is our present ecological crisis? & What specific issues are central? She will examine the science that explains the present state of our world and the major environmental issues we face. Lisa will then consider how our faith both informs and enables our response to this crisis. The first half of this talk reviews the Global Environmental Outlook. The second half of the talk discusses how faith enables a response.
Connections 