About the Order of Deacons

The word "Deacon" is used to mean different things in different Christian traditions, ranging from a lay leader within a congregation, to an ordained member of the clergy. The English word "deacon" comes from the Greek word "diakonia," a word that is used in the New Testament to refer to ministries of service. You can read about the very first deacons in Acts chapter 6.

In the United Methodist Church, deacons are clergy with a specific type of calling or vocation: (1) to lead the church in ministries of compassion, and justice; and (2) to serve as a bridge between the church in the world. You can learn more about deacons in relation to other types of Methodist clergy and lay vocations here.

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Some deacons work full-time in a congregation or denominational office. Many deacons work primarily outside of the local church, often in secular settings (however, all deacons maintain a relationship with and leadership at a local congregation). For example, the actual positions held by deacons in our conference range widely, and include teachers, counselors, chaplains, spiritual directors, music ministers, campus ministers, community and non-profit leaders, and even a few who work in government. It isn't the job title that distinguishes a deacon, and deacons may shift their area of focus throughout their ministry based on how the Holy Spirit guides them. What makes all of these different types of work ministry is the fact that the deacon is responding to God's call to serve, and doing so in a way that bridges church and world: the deacon represents the church in secular settings, and communicates the needs of the world back to the church in their ministry within congregations, districts and conferences.