The Clergy Wellness Commission

Position Description
Deacon

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Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh, North Carolina

June 1992

The Ministry of a Deacon

The Deacon is called to a ministry of servanthood directly under the Bishop, to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. The Deacon's life is to be modeled upon Holy Scripture. The Deacon is to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by word and example, among those with whom she lives, works, and worships. The Deacon is to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. The Deacon is to assist bishops and priests in public worship and in the ministration of God's Word and the Sacraments, as well as other duties assigned from time to time. At all times, the Deacon's life and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself.

From "The Ordination of a Deacon", The Book of Common Prayer

Dimensions

• Households: 550 Annual spending: $450,028
• $344,282 Local support
• $105,742 Beyond congregation
• Average Attendance
  • 4 Key Sundays: 474 Weekly Giving per Household: $14.90

Nature & Scope

The Deacon, who serves The Church of the Good Shepherd a limited number of hours each week, is directly accountable to the Bishop, who assigns the Deacon to the parish in consultation with the Rector. Within the parish, the Deacon serves at the Rector's pleasure, and extends and supports the Rector's ministry in the parish, community and diocese. Under the Rector's supervision and authority, the Deacon shares in the responsibilities of pastoral care, education, administration of the Sacraments, outreach, and administration of the parish. As a member of Good Shepherd's professional ministry team, the Deacon works collegially with other paid and volunteer staff, exercising lead responsibility in tasks and areas assigned by the Rector. The Deacon attends Vestry meetings, and works with Vestry and program committees as assigned.

The Deacon is non-stipendiary, supported through secular employment or private income. The parish provides reimbursement for travel and other ministry expenses; the Rector provides the Deacon with access to the resources of the Communion Alms Fund.

Good Shepherd is one of two large downtown Episcopal churches located near Capitol Square in Raleigh. Set in a mixture of commercial properties and state government buildings, there are five churches of other denominations within three blocks. The congregation's membership is drawn from a wide geographical area; many parishioners commute a considerable distance, past other Episcopal churches, to participate in worship, education, and other parish activities. are drawn by beauty of the sanctuary, the distinctive warmth of the congregation, the scope of the program offerings, and Good Shepherd's commitment to community service. (Good Shepherd houses a soup kitchen, which it founded, that serves over 200 meals a day, at lunch Monday through Friday.)

The congregation is made up of a variety of households -- singles, single-parent, couples, "traditional" families, etc. There is a wide range of ages, though not a great number of young families with children. Members are well-educated, and represent a variety of professions. A significant number of members is retired; in many of the rest of the households, all adults are full-time employed.

The Deacon must meet the usual standards of theological training required of this order in the Diocese of North Carolina, and be open to continuing professional development, through formal conferences and courses, informal collegial support and networking, and the Rector's mentorship. The Deacon must be able to develop leadership in others in the areas of parish life in which s/he is assigned particular responsibility.

Because of the limited amount of time available for this ministry, a major challenge for the Deacon is to set priorities among many competing "goods". In this, the Deacon is guided by the directions suggested from time to time by the Rector, by the general counsel of the Bishop, and by the theological charter of the Order of Deacons. Within these parameters, liturgical function at a principal Sunday service is always maintained, so that the Deacon may at all times be a Sign to the People.

The Deacon will have one or more diaconal ministries in the world, apart from ministries at The Church of the Good Shepherd.

Diaconal Functions within Good Shepherd

Within the limitations imposed by the part-time nature of the position, the Deacon shall:

1. Participate in Good Shepherd's professional team ministry, so that the congregation fulfills its mission and reaches its goals.

2. Share in leading worship, preaching the Gospel, and administering the sacraments, so that the congregation is given opportunity for spiritual renewal and exciting response to Christ.

At the Eucharist, the Deacon reads the Gospel, sets the Lord's Table, and dismisses the People.

Saying or chanting the Exultet at The Easter Vigil is the prerogative of the Deacon.

The Deacon may be assigned to read Morning or Evening Prayer.

3. Share in providing for pastoral care of the parishioners, so that individual and family joys, anxieties, and distress are addressed with Christian concern.

The Deacon trains, schedules, and supervises the Lay Eucharistic Ministers.

The Deacon makes hospital, nursing home and home visits as time permits.

4. Share in establishing achievable goals to which the parish can respond, so that its viability is assured and its mission strengthened.

The Deacon works with the Coordinator of Lay Ministries as "a bridge between Church and World" to help lay persons discern their ministries.

5. Recruit, support and train leaders and participants for various parish program areas as assigned, so that parishioners fulfill the program objectives of the parish.

The Deacon may participate in education planning and leadership.

6. Support the planning and action of standing Committees and task groups as assigned, so that these groups reach agreed goals and their ministries are celebrated.

The Deacon is a member the Christian Social Ministries Committee.

7. Participate in community, convocation, and diocesan activities, so that the mission of the congregation beyond itself is furthered.

8. Maintain a pattern of life that sets a wholesome Christian example.

June 8, 1992

Prepared by Interim Rector and Deacon for Personnel Committee review.

This position description follows the form and models contained in Called To Work Together, a handbook available from the National Church. It was composed by the Interim Rector in consultation with other professional ministry staff, based on the position descriptions developed for the Assistant to the Rector, the Director of Religious Education and the Coordinator of Lay Ministries, and experience with Good Shepherd's professional ministry team.

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