Sacred Calling of the Diaconate
Friends, God’s grace and peace to you,
I write to share this space about the sacred calling of the diaconate—a ministry rooted in mercy, sustained by courage, and always oriented toward faithful action. In the Episcopal Church the diaconate is a full order equal to the presbyterate and the episcopate, and referred to as the vocational diaconate, not to be confused with the transitional diaconate. Many in the Episcopal Church question the theology and usefulness of the transitional diaconate, and want to restore direct ordination, that is another conversation. I have been asked often when I might become a priest. The quick answer is never… that is not my call.
The words of the prophet Micah echo through my call and our tradition, this passage is inscribed on my consecration stole:
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
This is not a rhetorical question—it is a call. For those of us called to the diaconate, it becomes a life pattern: to walk humbly, to love fiercely, and to act boldly in the service of Christ and our neighbors and those on the boundaries.
Deacons are bridge-builders. We stand at the threshold between the Church and the world, listening deeply to both. Our role invites people into the Church—not for escape, but for transformation and renewal. We then send them back out, nourished and transformed, to do the work God-Jesus-Gospel is calling them to do: to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to strive for justice and peace, to embody mercy with courage and conviction.
The deacon’s presence in liturgy reflects this vocation: proclaiming the Gospel, calling the people to prayer, and sending the Church into the world with purpose and hope. However, the deacon’s deeper work unfolds outside the sanctuary—in shelters, capitol buildings, streets, borderlands, and community halls—wherever God’s beloved are suffering or silenced.
This is the prophetic edge of the diaconate—not to speak from above, but to stand beside. To accompany those in pain. To amplify the voices of the unheard. To remind the Church of the Gospel’s demands, and of Christ’s presence in the faces of the poor, the stranger, and the brokenhearted. To remind the Beloved Community that Jesus is always most present at the borders.
To be sure, the prophetic vocation is not limited to deacons:
All the baptized are called to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” (BCP, Baptismal Covenant)
Priests preach and teach prophetically, interpreting scripture and sacrament for transformation.
Bishops often speak prophetically on behalf of the wider Church, especially in the public square.
The deacon’s voice is distinctive, it is rooted not in episcopal hierarchy or priestly mediation, but in the kenotic, self-limiting, servant-shaped solidarity of Christ. Our voice and authority come from proximity to pain and participation in God’s justice.
Our role is to be Gospel organizers and agitators.
Consider some other diaconal voices:
Susanne Watson Epting reminds us:
- “The diaconate is not a lesser order, nor merely a steppingstone to the priesthood. It is a full and equal order, distinct in its calling and essential to the church’s ministry.”
- “Deacons are not just servants within the church; they are catalysts for change, bridging the gap between the church and the world, and embodying the church’s mission in tangible ways.”
- “Acknowledging the diaconate as a full and equal order challenges the church to reevaluate its structures and embrace a more holistic understanding of ministry.”
Rosalind Brown offers further insights:
- Embodiment of the Church’s Servant Nature – The deacon’s presence in liturgy symbolizes the Church’s call to serve the marginalized and bring the needs of the world into worship.
- Active Participation in Liturgical Planning – Deacons collaborate with Priests and lay leaders to shape worship that connects with the realities of the world.
- Proclamation and Sending Forth – Deacons proclaim the Gospel and deliver the Dismissal, reinforcing the movement from worship to mission.
- Hospitality and Inclusion – Deacons help nurture welcome, breaking down barriers for newcomers, the unchurched, and strangers.
Paul Avis deepens our understanding of the diaconal role:
- Liturgical Participation – Deacons assist in worship without presiding, drawing the congregation into sacred action while extending their mission beyond liturgy.
- Bridge Between Church and World – Deacons bring the needs of the wider community into the liturgy, especially in intercessions.
- Agents of Mission – Their calling includes outreach to the unchurched and those in need, embodying the Church’s outward-facing mission.
- Proclaimers of the Gospel – In reading the Gospel at Eucharist, deacons symbolize their role as carriers of the Good News into the world.
- Facilitators of Intercession – Deacons lead prayers that voice the community’s concerns, keeping worship grounded in lived reality.
Mercy is not passive. Courage is not abstract. Action is not optional. The ministry of the deacon—and indeed, the calling of every baptized Christian—is to join in God’s movement of love in the world, calling and sending all to be cocreators of God’s Beloved Community.
So let us walk together with humility. Let us love mercy more than comfort. And let us act with the courage that comes from Christ’s abiding presence.
May you be blessed with foolishness enough to trust that you can make a difference is a broken world.
Shalom, Rex
Deacon, The Episcopal Church
