Diagonal What?
Diaconia: A vocation you may want to consider
On July 3rd, 2003, I was consecrated in my home congregation, Faith Lutheran Church in Seguin, as a diaconal minister in the ELCA. I have found in the process leading to this event that most people have no idea what a diaconal minister is, both in my denomination and outside. In fact, my diaconal colleagues and I have noted that when one performs a spell check on any document containing the word “diaconal,” the word itself is not recognized and “diagonal” is offered as a correction (thus some of my compatriots have taken to greeting one another with a diagonal lean to the side as a humorous showing of solidarity). I see it as part of my responsibility in being a diaconal minister to educate others in my synod about diaconal ministry and what being a diaconal minister is and does. And so this article, which I will approach by answering some of the most frequently asked questions I receive when informing others that I am a diaconal minister.
Diagonal What? Diaconia: A vocation you may want to consider
What is diaconal ministry? The official definition from the ELCA Vocation and Education unit is: “Diaconal ministry in the ELCA is a form of leadership ministry designed to enable this church to more effectively fulfill its mission…Diaconal ministry is established to offer the ELCA a new form of ministry designed to work interdependently with other laity, pastors and bishops to carry out the mission of this church.” Essentially, whereas ordained ministers offer a ministry of word and sacrament, diaconal ministers are distinguished by a ministry of word and service. We like to think of ourselves as the bridge where church meets world.
What does “diaconal” mean? “Diaconal” comes from the Ancient Greek diaconia, meaning “service.” It is the root of the word “deacon” which many people confuse with what a diaconal minister is and does. But deacons have traditionally served a more liturgical function in the church, whereas diaconal ministry is all about service in the world, outside the church walls. However, diaconal ministers can and do offer pulpit supply and serve congregational functions when needed, much as ordained ministers can and do provide service to the world outside of the parish.
Did you have to go to seminary? Well, I suppose I did have to go as diaconal ministers are required to hold a Master’s degree in a theological discipline, or a Master’s of Divinity degree if they so choose. But as I look at it, I was given the opportunity to attend seminary as I found that experience to be one of the most rewarding and enriching of my academic career and spiritual journey. Other requirements include spiritual direction, a structured field experience, a specific field project, as well as being a part of the general candidacy process. Those of us who are involved in certain specialized ministries such as counseling must hold the appropriate credentials and licensure. In my case, I received the necessary psychological training and degrees and maintain licensure with the state of Texas to carry out my counseling ministry.
What do diaconal ministers do? This varies widely from person to person. Some diaconal ministers are chaplains in hospitals or prisons, others work in the area of youth and family ministry, and still others are advocates for peace and justice. Diaconal ministry offers the flexibility to create and perform any of myriad specialized ministries. In my case, I am a professional counselor, marriage and family therapist and retreat leader who operates from a faith perspective. Being a diaconal minister means that those with whom I work can have the confidence that I have had intensive theological training, applied pastoral experience, guided spiritual direction, and have been “screened” by my synod for fitness for ministry and leadership and that my work is grounded in a personal faith understanding that espouses a reliance on salvation through grace granted in faith.
Could you become a pastor someday? I’ve long gotten over being offended by this question, as a nurse might be told, “you have so much potential, why not move on (and up) and become a doctor?” with the implication that the latter is more important or prestigious than the former. I found that parish ministry didn’t suit me and my gifts, whereas diaconal ministry did. And I believe that the ministry I do is as crucial, if not at times more crucial, than the work I would be doing in a parish setting. And having the endorsement of my church recognizing this is rather important, affirming and empowering for me.
Can you marry people? When someone asks me this, I usually say "Yeah, I got married in 2003." When they clarify by asking if I can perform a wedding ceremony, I reply "Yes, but only if I am licensed by the State in which I reside." Generally, only the ordained clergy perform wedding ceremonies as part of their ministry of Word and Sacrament. Since diaconal ministers are called to Word and Service ministries, they do not consecrate the elements for holy communion and they do not baptize since these are acts of Word and Sacrament ministry. Diaconal ministers can and do preside at funerals and can preside at a wedding, but only if licensed by the State as a Justice of the Peace.
So how do I become a diaconal minister? Okay, so I don’t really get this particular question that often just yet, but I hope that changes in the near future. For someone who is interested in going about becoming a diaconal minister, I would recommend that they contact their synod office for the appropriate literature and application material. I would also suggest that they seek out a current diaconal minister or someone in the process who is close by who can give them some guidance (for some folks, “close by” may mean a state or two away).
And so you have an initial overview of one man’s explanation of his understanding of diaconal ministry.
Another requirement on the road to becoming a diaconal minister is attendance at what is called a “formation event” which takes place over two weeks in at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. These two weeks involve a series of lectures and workshops on the biblical and theological roots of diaconal ministry, the history of and possibilities and visions for the future of diaconal ministry, and guided spiritual growth. I attended this event this past summer (a little backwards, as the event is intended for those at the beginning of the process), and for me, the most beneficial component of these two weeks was meeting for the first time others who have felt the call to a different kind of ministry and forming a community with these people who I have found to be among the best, brightest, most compassionate and most self-less in the ELCA. The formation event is an opportunity for individuals considering rostered ministry to clarify their sense of call and the opportunities they feel compelled to pursue. Some in my community, or “Diaconal Class of 2002” as it seems to be, have since decided to pursue other courses of church leadership such as ordained ministry. I highly recommend the experience to anyone with any interest in this wonderful invention retrieved by our denomination from the ancient concept of diaconia, called to work in conjunction with the other rosters of ministry to bring our church to a closer and more comprehensive fulfillment of its Christian mission.