Speakin' Deacon: The Necessity of Deacons

Written by Margy Schmitt Ajer

As I typed the title for this article, I paused a bit, as I’m not sure it’s really the focus I want to address. Because as we think about what this church is called to, it’s not so much the “who” as the “what.”

The ELCA as a church body is called to lots of things, but the main call can be summed up as a call to Word, Sacrament, Service. All that we do and say should fit within that call.

A Ministry of Word is the focus of proclaiming the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus through words and deeds—through preaching, Bible study, and through actions that demonstrate God’s love and grace and mercy. All of this is to lift up and share the understanding that Jesus IS the Word of God… the living Gospel. Both pastors and deacons are called to proclaim that Word and live out that proclamation in a variety of ways.

A Ministry of Sacrament uses the gifts of baptism and eucharist, and the earthly elements of water, wine, and bread to receive God’s grace and forgiveness and presence in our lives. Sacramental ministry attaches the promises of God to everyday actions of eating, drinking, and washing; this makes those everyday actions profoundly relational and salvific. This grounding in sacramental ministry is at the heart of all we do as a church. In the ELCA, pastors are called and ordained to serve as Ministers of Word and Sacrament to steward these gifts from God.

And then we have a Ministry of Service. Just as we are called together around font and table to be strengthened, fed, and nourished, we are then sent out to carry the Good News to others, to be God’s heart and hands in the world, to care for all of God’s children, all of God’s church, all of God’s world. And deacons are called and ordained to serve as Ministers of Word and Service, to live out the call to live on the boundary of church and world.

BUT… aren’t we all called to serve others? Isn’t that part of each of our baptismal calls? Isn’t that part of what we call the priesthood of all believers?

Yes, yes, and yes! Then why do we need folks set aside as deacons to do this work? There are several reasons it is important and necessary that we as a church have deacons, Ministers of Word and Service.

* Deacons who serve outside the church walls do so as representatives of Christ’s church. While we are all called to living out our faith, deacons have a special call to bridge the church and world, to live on the boundaries, and to be the church in whatever setting in which they find themselves.
* Part of a deacon’s call is to always be reminding the whole church of its call to a ministry of service.
* A deacon serves as a model for others of the call to service, the call to diakonia.
* The ministry of a deacon is to always make sure that our service is grounded in the Word and is nourished through sacrament, and to help strengthen those connections.
* A deacon has a special call to teach and lead others, whether congregations or individuals, in living out this call to all to serve.
* Deacons ask the “So what?” (Why does faith matter?) questions and help others find answers for their own lives.

So are deacons necessary? The better question is how necessary is the church’s call to Word and Service? Thanks be to God for those called to carry out this call on behalf of the whole church, on behalf of us all!

Although mostly retired, Deacon Margy Schmitt Ajer currently serves Christ Lutheran Church in San Clemente as they discern their future. Traveling with her spouse, Rich, and spending time with grandchildren are among her favorite activities.

Read Issue 3 here.
Read Issue 2 here.
Read Issue 1 here.

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