Welcome to "Speakin' Deacon"

Today at PacificaSynod.org we begin a new series we’re calling Speakin’ Deacon: The Past, Present, and Future of Diaconal Ministry, essays and articles written by deacons for everyone. In this series we hope to cover such varied topics as the history of deacons, the differences between deacons and pastors, what deacons do, funding, and more.

But before we embark on this journey together, we’d like to introduce you to our contributors for this series, all of them deacons who are serving or have served within Pacifica Synod: Jennifer Barker, John Baynton, Mindy Bugaj, Daneen Pysz, and Margy Schmitt-Ajer.

Jennifer Barker (Gethsamane Lutheran, San Diego)
Years ago, I was struggling through a painful time in my life. One evening, while praying for guidance and wisdom, I heard God’s voice for the first and (so far) only time. God said “I’m with you, I always have been and I always will be.” After the initial shock wore off, I realized I needed to do something with that. I didn’t know what, but it seemed important. It took many years, lots of discernment, tons of encouragement, a boatload of courage, and one pandemic to push me into seminary on the Word and Service track.  

The following questions were some of the most often I was asked: Are you going to be a pastor when you grow up? Shouldn’t you just become a pastor? Is a deacon a smaller, less important, cheaper, less relevant, pastor-to-be? The answers ranged from No to No to No. God didn’t call me to be a pastor; God called me to be a deacon. God called me to reach out in service, to love my neighbor, and to open hearts to the community outside. God wanted me to be a reminder to all of God’s children that God is with you, always has been and always will be.

John Baynton (Hope Lutheran, Palm Desert)
Ministry has always been in my back pocket as an option. I grew up in the church and really like going to church and being on mission trips. After college, I was not sure what the next step would be, but my mother heard about this cool ELCA program called YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission) and thought that I might enjoy it. I applied and the next thing I knew I was in Chicago for orientation getting ready to fly out of the country. I spent a year living and working in Serbia, and while I was there I realized that this is what I wanted to do. I saw what this church was doing. I saw what being the hands and feet of the church really meant. And I saw that our church was investing in that, investing in me. I applied to seminary while in Serbia. I made it home and went to Wartburg Seminary without ever having seen the place. While there, I learned that deacons were a thing. I always thought it was just pastors who are leaders in the church. But the call of the deacon spoke to me, getting to lead as the hands and the feet of the church. The more I learned about deacons, the more it spoke to me. So here I am, a deacon in the ELCA.

Mindy Bugaj (Bethlehem Lutheran, Encinitas)
I came to ministry not by way of any personal plan. That is how God works sometimes.
While home from college, I went to my home church where a woman was serving behind the altar. She was an associate pastor and the first female pastor in that congregation and in my experience. Later, I told my mother about the strong feelings I was having to be a pastor. She discouraged me for a number of protective and caring reasons. So, I completed college and went to work in retail and marketing without thought of pursuing a formal ministry role.  

Over the years, in that same home congregation, I taught Sunday school and helped with youth group. In 2008, the new pastor asked that I consider working in ministry with youth and member visitation. After much convincing and prayer, I joined the staff.

I completed classes through the synod PALLMM program to be synodically licensed. Later, through Vibrant Faith and Wartburg Seminary, I earned a certificate in Youth and Family Ministry. When I entered candidacy, I did so as an Associate in Ministry (AIM) candidate. Upon completion of candidacy, I was ordained to the roster of Word and Service.

It was and is a blessing to have pastors and teachers who encouraged and affirmed my call to ministry. (They know who they are!) My work in ministry has focused on youth and family, yet as church needs changed and congregations evolved, so have my experiences and responsibilities. Youth ministry, pastoral care, preaching, leading worship, teaching, and more have rounded out my experiences as a deacon. It is a call I am humbled to have received and one where I am honored to continue to serve.

Daneen Pysz (Gloria Dei Lutheran, Dana Point)
My call story for Word and Service has taken a lifetime to develop. Even though God was always a part of my life, I did not ask for guidance on how to serve him.  About ten years ago, I was taking one of my walks and started talking to my Heavenly Father. It was just casual, but I think it was finally from my heart and what God wanted to hear. I said, “Father, you know I love to sing and dance and act. I believe you gave me these talents. Please help me use my talents for you and to bring glory to your name.” I heard a voice in my head say, “Then write your own songs and dramas about women in the Bible and perform them.”

As I researched each woman, I felt a constant prodding that I needed to go somewhere to find more information, so I decided to pursue a degree in theology. Not knowing what to do with this degree, the Lord placed deacons in my life so I began to investigate Word and Service. I felt called to the role of Word and Service to preach the gospel, to work side by side with my pastor, and to lead outreach programs for seniors.

Margy Schmitt-Ajer (Christ Lutheran, San Clemente)
Four rosters, four titles…That’s my call story!

After college, I spent several years serving in synodical and congregational youth ministry. During that time, I gradually began to discern that I was called to do this work as my vocation, and that I was called to do it on behalf of the whole church, as one trained, theologically educated, recognized by, and accountable to the church. I did not feel called to the role of pastor, or to Word and Sacrament ministry, but I was clear that seminary was my next step. It was during my seminary education that my own discernment became clearer that my call was to bridge church and world, to connect faith and action, to proclaim and to serve. In other words, the call was to Word and Service, although neither the church nor I had the words yet for such a call.

The closest I could come at that point was to seek certification as a Lay Professional Leader in the Lutheran Church in America. To receive that certification, I completed my seminary degree, went through a candidacy process, and was approved to serve. We didn’t use the word “roster” then, but I was recognized by and accountable to the synod and bishop in which I served.

As the ELCA came into being, Associate in Ministry was the title given to the variety of lay staff recognized by the three previous church bodies who joined to become the ELCA. I was grandfathered into this new roster and given the new title.

Then came the Study of Ministry, and the reclaiming by the ELCA of the role of the diaconate, and how it would play out in the new church, as a cadre of those called to Word and Service Ministry, now called Diaconal Ministers. I now had words for my call! After completing a formation process, I was the first consecrated Diaconal Minister in the ELCA.

When the church then moved to an understanding of two equal rosters, allowing us to truly be the church we are called to be, a church of Word, Sacrament, Service, I rejoiced! Being named as “deacon” felt like coming home at last.

Four rosters, four titles. But one call….that of proclaiming the Gospel, in Word and Service.