Ordaining Deacons

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! In the last Bishop’s Note we looked at the examination in the Form and Manner of Ordaining Deacons (p. 478,) this week we’ll continue our examination by looking at the ordination itself. Every sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. That outward and visible sign always consists of an action or item, and the words of the person administering the sacrament. Baptism for example has the pouring or immersion in water, and the minister saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Other parts of the service may be indicated by the BCP, and they may be beneficial by adding prayers and conveying the meaning of what’s happening, but that is all that’s needed and, in a life or death emergency, what’s often done. For ordination to the diaconate it’s the laying on of hands by the bishop and the words that follow it below. This section really hits at the core of what’s going on. A deacon isn’t called to be a junior priest, a deacon is called to a special ministry of servanthood. A deacon is supposed to imitate the servanthood and humility of Christ, and provide a model of that to the others in the congregation. In a sense, the function of the deacon is to lead the people of God from the front into the world. The laying on of hands and the short sentence that follows are the core, but everything else here fleshes out that servant ministry, especially the giving of vestments. The deacon is serving Christ by serving the poor and needy in society, not only in deed, but with the gospel of Jesus Christ. To do this they need that reminder of the yoke of Christ providing strength and the armor of God protecting them.

All now stand as witnesses, except the Ordinands, who kneel facing the Bishop. The Bishop then prays the following prayer, first saying Let us pray. O God, most merciful Father, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to take upon himself the form of a servant. He humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death on a Cross. Yet you have highly exalted him, and made him Lord of all. For this great mystery, and for these your servants whom you now call to obedience after his example, we offer you our most hearty thanks; and we ask that we may daily increase in humility and service, that by their ministry as well as by those with whom they serve, your holy Name may for ever be glorified, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Bishop lays his hands upon the head of every one to be made Deacon, each one humbly kneeling before him, and says Receive the Holy Spirit for the Office and work of a Deacon in the Church of God, now committed to you by the imposition of my hands; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Bishop then prays the following over the Ordinands. In your great goodness, O Lord, make these your servants Deacons in your Church; give them grace to be modest, humble, and constant in their ministry; give them a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline; and with the testimony of a good conscience always before them, may they continue stable and strong in the service of your Son Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honor, world without end. The People in a loud voice respond Amen. The new Deacons may now be vested according to the Order of Deacons. As the Deacon is vested with a maniple, the Bishop says Receive this maniple as a sign of your service, for your Lord came among us as one who served. As the Deacon is vested with a stole, the Bishop says Receive this stole as a sign of the yoke of Christ, your Savior. As the Deacon is vested with a dalmatic, the Bishop says Receive this dalmatic as a sign that you must daily take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Then the Bishop delivers to every one of them a Book of Gospels or New Testament saying Take the authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to teach the same. The Bishop then says to the People                The peace of the Lord be always with you. People  And with your spirit.