Ladies, ever thought about being a Deaconess?

[Lamb]

For the ladies, have you ever considered becoming a Deaconess?

 

[Faith]

For the ladies, have you ever considered becoming a Deaconess?

I’m not sure my church even has them, but even if they do, no.
We do have women helping prepare for Communion.

 

[Josiah]

Lamm is referring to an office quite unique to the LCMS.



.

 

[tango]

Lamm is referring to an office quite unique to the LCMS.



.

Is it unique to LCMS? I've seen other churches who have deaconesses that aren't LCMS.

 

[Albion]

Is it unique to LCMS? I've seen other churches who have deaconesses that aren't LCMS.

That's right. Various of the Anglican and Catholic churches have deaconesses as well as Lutheran ones, but the functions of deaconesses differ between some of them.

 

[Castle Church]

ECLA has two types of Deacons and Deaconesses; the Synod and Parish Deacon and Rostered Deacon. The S&P Deacon can only serve in that synod (dioceses) and is assigned to be under a particular Pastor, if the pastor leaves or a new Bishop or pastor is installed he/she has the right to disband a S&P Deacon from their post (but I doubt that happens ever). A Rostered Deacon serves the entire ELCA and cannot be dismissed like that. They also hold slightly different roles in the parish and denomination at large. S&P are commissioned for a ministry of Word and Service that flows from the pastoral office of Word and Sacrament and only serve within the geographic bounds of the synod and are not rostered as lay ministers in ELCA.

Not all ELCA synods have S&P Deacons and Deaconesses, it is up to the Bishop if they want to use the ministry.

 

[Josiah]

Is it unique to LCMS? I've seen other churches who have deaconesses that aren't LCMS.

The terms "deacon" and "deaconess" are common in contemporary Christianity. But the terms often refer to VERY different offices. The LCMS had neither until very recently and both are quite unique in the LCMS.



.

 

[Albion]

Part of the issue is that deacons and deaconesses go back in Christian history to the ancient church, but in the Western church both of them later ceased to be very common until their revival in recent times.

A deacon is an ordained clergyman with sacramental duties in the Roman and Anglican churches. Deaconesses are called and installed but not ordained. As was the case in antiquity, deaconesses served, among other things, as teachers of the young and as officials who were assigned to prepare women for baptism.

In today's Lutheran and Presbyterian churches, the position exists, but the concept of ministry is sufficiently different there, so that further complicates a comparison of deacons and deaconesses.

 

[tango]

The terms "deacon" and "deaconess" are common in contemporary Christianity. But the terms often refer to VERY different offices. The LCMS had neither until very recently and both are quite unique in the LCMS.



.

LCMS might have a unique interpretation of what a deaconess is but other denominations have deacons and deaconesses in church.

At my last church the deacons could be male or female and looked after the fabric of the building. It was often said that if you needed spiritual support you'd go to an elder and if the roof was leaking you'd go to a deacon. My current church has elders (always male) and deaconesses (always female). I'm not entirely sure exactly what the two roles entail or how (if?) they differ.

 

[Josiah]

LCMS might have a unique interpretation of what a deaconess is but other denominations have deacons and deaconesses in church.

At my last church the deacons could be male or female and looked after the fabric of the building. It was often said that if you needed spiritual support you'd go to an elder and if the roof was leaking you'd go to a deacon. My current church has elders (always male) and deaconesses (always female). I'm not entirely sure exactly what the two roles entail or how (if?) they differ.

Yup. As noted, LOTS of faith communities embrace the titles of "Deacon" and "Deaconess." Especially very recently. BUT as you too note, these refer to VERY different things in different denominations.

I suspect that what Lamm has in mind is a very new office in the LCMS, one unlike found anywhere else.



.

 

[Lamb]

Yup. As noted, LOTS of faith communities embrace the titles of "Deacon" and "Deaconess." Especially very recently. BUT as you too note, these refer to VERY different things in different denominations.

I suspect that what Lamm has in mind is a very new office in the LCMS, one unlike found anywhere else.



.

I didn't know there was a difference.

 

[Joshua1Eight]

1 Timothy 2:11-12

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.


Is the position of Deacon a position of authority over other men?

 

[Albion]

1 Timothy 2:11-12

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.


Is the position of Deacon a position of authority over other men?

Again, the answer probably depends on which denomination is being examined. In the older churches/communions, deacons are clergymen while deaconesses are laywomen who have been given duties that, in the main, have always been associated with women. Operating the Sunday School, for example, or conducting Bible study or organizing the congregation's charitable projects.

 

[Josiah]

In some districts of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, there is an office of "Deacon." It's a new thing and only in some Districts (although the Synod recognizes it). It's entirely unrelated to the older office of Deaconess; they have little to nothing in common.

Deaconess in the LCMS began in 1922. They are women (only) - there is no "Deacon" equal. They are trained at the two seminaries along side of men studying to be pastors (it's fairly common for they to be husbands and wives). They have distinctive vestments/uniforms. They are typically full time and are paid. They assist pastors and others in ministry but do not lead or participate in the worship service in any way. While their duties may be similar to Director of Evangelism or Director of Christian Education or Director of Music or other (new) officies, their ministry can be very broad. They can also work for districts or synod... at times as foreign missionaries, not only in parishes.

Deacon in the LCMS began very recently and exists only in some districts. It is one form of Lay Minister (there are several). They take 10 courses (college-level) taught locally by the District usually by pastors authorized to do so. They must serve under a pastor and usually serve as a kind of Assistant Pastor in the parish usually part-time and nearly always as a volunteer, rarely paid. They can lead the entire service, including preaching the sermon but only as authorized and supervised by their supervisor (the pastor to whom they are associated) but in most cases this is only when the pastor is away for some reason but sometimes for Advent and Lenten services or other special times. Sometimes the Deacon leads the Sunday Worship but the Pastor does the sermon and Sacrament, the two serving together on Sundays. In a few cases, they may serve alone in a very small congregation (of which the LCMS has MANY - typically in rural or inter-center areas) again under a supervising pastor but in a different parish. This function is currently controversial in the LCMS, some Districts welcome this (including mine), some don't permit it.

Functionally, the two MAY be similar (it depends on the setting) but often are very different. Deaconesses are better trained, usually full time and salaried. And they don't serve in the worship service. Deacons are usually part time, volunteers, and always directly supervised and clearly under a pastor.




.