Call to be a Deacon?

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Well, we had a couple of deacon’s from the old school, end up being divorced as the wife left him.

They hated the ministry.

So, when I applied, the program had been revamped and the director was emphatic about my wife supporting my decision and they mandated that the wives go through the 12 week discernment process.

Jim
 
That was exactly it. She said, “your vocation, not mine.” She doesn’t interfere, but she did not attend any of the formation classes with the other wives, nor the social events, nor does she sit with deacon wives at liturgies.
 
The older deacons wives came to speak to us during discernment.

In the beginning, deacons were assigned to a parish by the Bishop and the pastor of that parish had to accept them.

They weren’t always so welcoming and some of the deacon’s wives said they were treated badly by both the pastor and the parishioners.

Anyway, as a result, the deacon’s now have a contract signed between them and the pastor of the parish. The duties of the deacon are spelled out and the minimum hours he will serve, but also, the maximum. The wives usually get involved on the more social events, but this is not on the contract.

Lastly, the first deacons, the training in theology was flawed and some were giving homilies that were flawed.

As a result, back in the 90’s, they revamped the entire diaconate and now they are well trained in theology, but most of all the discernment process is really involved for both the candidate and his wife.

In fact, we had priests attend the discernment process and they all shared that they wished they had such a program when they entered the seminary.

Jim
 
I would not want to pursue being a Deacon till my wife see’s this calling. Jesus said a house divided against itself won’t stand.
 
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Yup, being a deacon is a vocation and it’s not easy on the family.

They told us that there was a mandatory 15 hours per week that we’d have to serve, but most deacons did more than that.

Consider your lifestyle and commitments and see if 15 hours out of your life works.

Also, they told us the order of priority for a deacon is,

1 Godn Family and Health
2. Job
3. Ministry.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Yup, being a deacon is a vocation and it’s not easy on the family.

They told us that there was a mandatory 15 hours per week that we’d have to serve, but most deacons did more than that.
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A lot of activities take up that kind of time… At least with the deacon position, the wife knows that he is nearby and that his activities are wholesome
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Julian posted that the wife was unsupportive in her husband’s decision to apply for the diaconate.
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My wife would be strongly supportive–but I’m not 🤣

I greatly appreciate the restoration of the diaconate, appreciate our deacons, and strongly support both. But I’m not called.

Had +Frances opened doors a decade earlier to formerly RC being ordained to the presbyterate in EC churches (as appears to be the case, but it’s far less than clear), it could have been, but I’m at an age where the combination of the finances for several years of preparation, and the time left before retirement, really make that a non-starter.

But it’s good to have our deacons.

btw, the difference in the EC Divine Liturgy with a deacon is stunning . . . the role in the liturgy is much larger than in the RCC.

hawk
 
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