Ecumenical

An Empirical Look at the Ecumenical Diaconate in the United States, Benjamin L. Hartley, 2003. This monograph, published by the North American Association for the Diaconate, highlights the main findings of the research project detailed in the following paper. Graphics in this document may be better viewed in the powerpoint presentation format below.

The Ecumenical Opportunity of the Diaconate: A Comparative Study of the American Diaconate in Episcopal, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and United Methodist Churches, research project, Benjamin L. Hartley, Spring, 2000. The purpose of this project was to determine similarities and differences in the diaconate in the above denominations to explore possibilities for ecumenical cooperation. The results of the study are based on a data set of 517 returned surveys (33.5% response rate).

Powerpoint Presentation of key findings of "The Ecumenical Opportunity of the Diaconate..." These slides are color charts and summaries of key findings from the above full length project report. It was first presented at a gathering of The Ecumenical Network for the Diaconate (TEND) in November, 2001.

Deacons among the baptized, John N. Collins, 2002. This article appeared in the Pentecost 2002 edition of Diakoneo, vol. 24 no.4.

Contextualizing Dorothea Reininger's Women Deacons, John N. Collins, 2001. This lengthy article provides an English language summary and book review of Dorothea Reininger's Diakonat der Frau in der Einen Kirche Schwabenverlag, 1999. Using a very personal style, Collins also provides an excellent introduction to the key theological debate concerning the identity of the diaconate.

Diakonia and the New Greek Lexicon (BDAG): John N. Collins, 2001. Unpublished essay commenting on a new revised edition of a Greek lexicon which utilizes the linguistic research found in Collins' Diakonia: Reinterpreting the Ancient Sources (New York: Oxford, 1990). The lexicon's treatment of the diakon- words is the first appearance in a scholarly linguistic text of Collins' findings.

Diaconate Bibliography. This bibliography, compiled by the webspinner, is representative of the major works on the diaconate, most of which are generally available from libraries in the United States.

United Methodist

Connected and Sent Out: Implications of New Biblical Research for the United Methodist Diaconate: Benjamin L. Hartley. Originally published in Quarterly Review, Winter, 2004-2005.

Deacons as Emissary-Servants: A Liturgical Theology: Benjamin L. Hartley. Originally published in Quarterly Review, Winter, 1999-2000.

Elders and Deacons: Renewed Orders and Partnership in Leading Worship: Daniel T. Benedict, Jr. Originally published in Quarterly Review, Winter 1999-2000.

Diakonia as a "Sacred Order" in The United Methodist Church: Diedra Kriewald. Originally published in Quarterly Review, Winter, 1999-2000.

The Ministry of Deacons in Methodism from Wesley to Today (1998): Kenneth E. Rowe. Originally published in Quarterly Review, Winter, 1999-2000.

The Office of Deacon: A Historical Summary: Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. Originally published in Quarterly Review, Winter, 1999-2000.

The Deacon in United Methodism: Bishop William B. Oden, presented to The Council of Bishops Ministry Study Committee, 1994. Written prior to the 1996 General Conference decision to institute the ordained, permanent, diaconate, this article is a review of the history and a consideration of possible models for the diaconate.

The Permanent Diaconate Revisited: Gerald F. Moede, Occasional Paper No. 79, September 15, 1989, United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

The Story of the Challenge: Robert W. Thornburg, 1984?, This is an unpublished, personal reflection on the author's own work in trying to promote the diaconate in the United Methodist Church.

The Permanent Diaconate: A Challenge to the United Methodist Church: Robert W. Thornburg, 1973. This is the manuscript for an address given to the United Methodist deaconesses and home missionaries in 1973. The author was Associate General Secretary of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry at the time. Thornburg argues for an ordained permanent diaconate.

Other articles and resources pertaining to the United Methodist diaconate can be found in the Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries Resource Library.

Anglican

Newsletters from the North American Association for the Diaconate and the Diaconal Association of the Church of England may be viewed online.

Roman Catholic

Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons and The Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City, 1998. These two documents are a joint declaration from the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Congregation for the Clergy in the Roman Curia. The documents are "intended as a response to a widely felt need to clarify and regulate the diversity of approaches [with regard to the diaconate] adopted in experiments conducted up to now, whether at the level of discernment and training or at that of active ministry and ongoing formation. In this way it will be possible to ensure a certain stability of approach which takes account of legitimate plurality and in turn guarantees that indispensable unity, necessary for the success of the ministry of the permanent Diaconate which has been fruitful and which, at the threshold of the Third Millenium, promises to make an important contribution to New Evangelisation."

Apostolic Letter Containing Norms for the Order of Diaconate, Ad Pascendum, Pope Paul VI, 15 August, 1972.

General Norms For Restoring The Permanent Diaconate in the Latin Church
Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem, Pope Paul VI, 18 June, 1967. This document contains the general norms for how the permanent diaconate should take shape in those Episcopal Conferences which choose to have a permanent diaconate.

More articles on the Roman Catholic diaconate

More articles specifically on the history of women deacons and contemporary arguments supporting the ordination of women deacons in the Roman Catholic Church.