Key points:
- New rules from the 2024 General Conference, along with rising needs in local communities, are boosting the visibility and importance of deacons.
- Deacons are clergy who assist in worship, celebrate the sacraments, preach God’s word and lead ministries in the community.
- In The United Methodist Church, diaconal roles of leadership also include lay people serving as deaconesses and home missioners.
Photo by Brian Tolbert.
Commentaries
What is the identity and call of deacons in The United Methodist Church?
Some 150 United Methodist deacons, provisional deacons and deacon candidates discussed this question and more during the 2025 Deacon Gathering, organized by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Sept. 22–24.
As deacons, we enjoyed three days of fellowship, worship and celebration. The first permanent deacons in The United Methodist Church were ordained in 1997, and 10 of that original group attended this gathering in Nashville, Tennessee. We eagerly explored diaconal vocation, identity and function in conversation together.
With new rules legislated by General Conference in 2024 and increasing needs pressuring our communities, the role of the deacon is gaining visibility and importance. What do you know about the call of the deacon?
The diaconate of all believers
Deacons exemplify the ministry to which all Christians are called. Just as all baptized Christians participate in the priesthood of all believers, we all also participate in “the diaconate of all believers.” Laity as well as clergy find their vocation within the ministry of all Christians, both priestly and diaconal.
The words “deacon” and “diaconate” come from the Greek word “diakonia.” Diakonia is the work of an emissary, a messenger or mediator sent by a person in a position of power. This word in the New Testament has many facets of meaning:
- Emissary, go-between, messenger, envoy (1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 6:4; 11:23)
- Service to persons in need (Mark 15:41; 2 Timothy 1:18)
- Serving at the tables (Acts 6:2)
- Charity through distribution of funds (2 Corinthians 8:19, Romans 15:25)
- Ministry in the congregation (Romans 12:7)
- Discipleship aspect (Mark 10:45)
- Salvation as God’s work through Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7-9)
- Reconciliation through his messengers (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
The Greek word is translated with various English words. For example, Jesus said: “The greatest among you will be your servant [diakonos]” (Matthew 23:11). Jesus exemplified diakonia by washing his disciples’ feet. Thus, the basin and towel are symbols of diakonia for the whole church. Diakonia is also translated as ministry. For example, “God . . . has given us the ministry [diakonīan] of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Diakonia can also simply mean service, based on Acts 6:1-4. The apostles selected Stephen and six others for the service [diakonia] of the physical needs of widows so that the apostles could focus on the service [diakonia] of the word [of God]. The popular phrase “servant leadership” is a poor substitute for the calling of diakonia.
The image of lowly humble service belies the power of diakonia. Diakonia is Christian-motivated social service — but it is much more than living out one’s faith by helping others. There is an apostolic dimension of diakonia — we are called by God and sent out into the world.
Leaders of diakonia
The United Methodist Church selects people to serve in diaconal roles of leadership. Like Phoebe (Romans 16:1) and Stephen (Acts 6:1-5) in the early church, some United Methodists discern a call to lead others in the ministry of diakonia. The church affirms these leaders through consecration or ordination.
Deaconesses and home missioners are people called to a lifetime of service as laypersons and are consecrated by a bishop and commissioned to specialized ministries. These members of the lay diaconate follow Christ’s mandates to:
- Alleviate suffering
- Eradicate causes of injustice and all that robs life of dignity and worth
- Facilitate the development of full human potential
- Share in building global community through the church universal
Established in the 19th century, the role of deaconess afforded women the opportunity to serve their communities in ministry at a time when women were denied the opportunity to serve the church in ministry. Today, people of all genders in The United Methodist Church can express their call to ministry through set-apart lay or ordained roles.
Deacons are called to a lifetime of service as clergy and are ordained to that role. “Deacons are persons called by God, authorized by the Church, and ordained by a bishop to a lifetime ministry of Word, Service, Compassion, and Justice” (Book of Discipline 2020/2024, Paragraph 329). Deacons assist in worship, celebrate the sacraments, preach the word of God and lead the whole church in ministries in the community.
Describing a deacon’s ministry
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Deacons are called to specialized ministries serving people in the community and leading others to do the same. Deacons are highly skilled in their areas of specialization. Unlike elders serving in pastoral ministry, deacons are not generalists. One reason that deacons do not participate in the itinerancy is that their ministry roles are not interchangeable. Yet, deacons travel far and wide in service to those in need.
The ministry of each deacon is unique. Deacons bridge the church and the world, seeking out the margins and finding solidarity with the poor. Deacons work in many diverse settings and jobs, such as teachers, social workers, nurses, chaplains, artists, administrators, counselors and so on. The call of the deacon is to the margins of society, addressing ever-changing and evolving needs. This call requires flexibility, creativity and innovation.
Deacons lead and equip the laity to join in the work of liberating service to which we have all been called. To truly experience diakonia, allow a deacon to lead you in seeing, reflecting and acting with your community to address their greatest needs.
Many people assume that the role of deacon is characterized by deficiency, defined by what they are not allowed or not skilled to do. Some mistakenly believe that United Methodist deacons are less educated, insufficiently skilled, or junior in status when compared to ordained elders.
However, deacons and elders are equal and complementary, called to distinct ministries.
How do we describe this ministry that takes such diverse forms? Describing the call of the deacon is like trying to describe a stained-glass window one piece of glass at a time! To accurately picture the call of the deacon, ask a deacon to share about their unique ministry.
Stephens is chair of the Order of Deacons in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church and teaches at the Moravian University School of Theology. He is co-editor of “Diaconal Studies: Lived Theology for the Church in North America” and author of “Reckoning Methodism: Mission and Division in the Public Church.” He maintains the blog https://www.ethicsconsidered.com/.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer, news editor, [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.
