“If they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons”

By the time you are reading these words, it is extremely likely that you will be aware of the exciting news that we are to have a newly-ordained deacon serving as a curate in our parishes. In fact, by now most of you will have met our new curate, Iain McKillop.

Iain has written about himself in the Parish Magazine and soon he will be seen about regularly so I do not intend to say anything further by way of introduction to Iain himself. I would, however, like to take the chance to remind you what a deacon is, and to explain some of the things you might expect a deacon to do.

People often think of a deacon as a kind of trainee priest and, in fact, in the vast majority of cases, a person is first ordained deacon and then, almost exactly a year to the day later, that person is ordained priest. Almost invariably, in the Anglican Communion and in the Roman Catholic Church at any rate, that is what happens. (There are some permanent deacons in both, particularly in the Catholic Church where married men often enter the permanent diaconate.)

The word deacon comes from the Greek diakonos, a servant, one who renders service (diakonia), a waiting-man, minister or messenger. The first deacons in the Church were the seven men (one of them Stephen) who were chosen to assist with the administration of charitable work of the Church, as described in Acts 6. Since the second century there have been three orders of the ordained: bishops, presbyters (or priests) and deacons. Priests and deacons were totally separate orders.

St Stephen, of course, was the first martyr of the Christian faith. Since those early days of the Church, there have been a number of prominent deacons, including St. Francis of Assisi and, as they say, our very own St Lawrence, deacon of Rome.

In the early centuries of the Church there was often much rivalry between the deacons and the priests. But by the Middle Ages the priest had become the local embodiment of the church’s life, whereas the diaconate had lost most of its real function. Today, when the diaconate is normally a stage through which a person quickly passes, a deacon’s role is exemplified by service and teaching. A deacon takes a significant role within the Church’s services. He, or she, may take noneucharistic services (such as Matins or Evensong). You will see Iain quite prominently in the liturgical life of the Eucharist itself. Amongst other things, he will introduce and lead some of the prayers and other sections of the service; he will read the gospel; he will lay up the altar; he will sometimes lead the intercessions and, initially about once a month, he will preach.

A deacon can conduct a funeral but is not normally allowed to take a wedding or to baptise someone. (In extreme circumstances any Christian can conduct a baptism.) A deacon can lead the Eucharist up to the Eucharistic Prayer, and can take the communion to the sick or house-bound. He, or she, normally takes on a pastoral role, for example visiting the sick.

As an ex-teacher, we can expect Iain to undertake some teaching, for example, running a house-group or Bible-study. He may well build up a relationship with our local schools. I would expect his gifts in art to be represented in his ministry in some prominent way.

Iain will automatically be on the PCC of both churches, will belong to the Deanery Synod and will attend the Clergy Chapter meetings when he can. He will also attend the Ministers’ Fraternal, and will be involved with Effingham Churches and Bookham Churches Together. He is not automatically on all the sub-committees of the PCCs (which is very fortunate for him!) but naturally his input will be of great value on these from time to time.

Many of you will be aware that the most common time for ordinations to the diaconate (and to the priesthood) is at Petertide, that is around the time of St Peter’s Day, June 29th. Iain is to be ordained deacon in the cathedral on Sunday July 4th. I expect to be there at his ordination, along with a few representatives of our parishes who will support Iain on this momentous day in his life.

I ask you to pray for Iain as this new chapter in his life opens, a chapter that will be significant for us and, of course, of huge significance to him. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us all as we discern what the best way forward might be for Iain and how we may most effectively use his talents, interests and gifts. I know that you will give Iain a very warm welcome into his work among us, and that you will support him in whatever way you can.

I write these words, as always, with my love and prayers.
Fr. Andrew