First I want to say I am a HUGE supporter of The Pillar and what you are doing for truth in reporting. Thanks for doing a podcast on the diaconate, but I from what I heard I would recommend a refresher by reading, "Understanding the Diaconate" by Bishop Sean McKnight, who has tons of knowledge and experience .
First I want to say I am a HUGE supporter of The Pillar and what you are doing for truth in reporting. Thanks for doing a podcast on the diaconate, but I from what I heard I would recommend a refresher by reading, "Understanding the Diaconate" by Bishop Sean McKnight, who has tons of knowledge and experience .
Much of what I heard seemed like an echo of "yesteryear" from the late 70's & 80's. It is way to simplistic to use 2 verses of Scripture (Acts 6:2-3) to define us as "table-waiters" while ignoring the following two entire CHAPTERS of the Word of God (see Acts 7 & 8) which show deacons preaching the Gospel, explaining the Scriptures, evangelizing, working miracles and baptizing . The social service view of the diaconate based on Acts 6:2-3 is from the German Evangelical/Lutheran viewpoint of the mid-20th century which lacks any Catholic theology of Orders.
The podcast seemed to emphasize the ordinary functions of a deacon as things that can be done by extraordinary lay ministers. But our vocation is not defined by what we do, rather by who we are. I think if we look at the identity conferred by the ontological configuration of the Sacrament, then we can better see why Orders has three expressions: Christ the Teacher (bishop), Christ the Priest (presbyter) and Christ the Servant (deacon). All three together make the whole Christ present in ministry by imaging His threefold mission as Messiah (Prophet/Teacher; Priest and King/Royal Servant. If we reduce ordained ministry to function then really all we truly need as essential to the Church are the bishops for they possess all sacramental three identities and full apostolic authority.
Mostly an old men's club? Perhaps once upon a time or in certain dioceses and I think this might be true here if I look at those who went long before me in my Archdiocese. But I was ordained a deacon 11 years ago, firmly in middle age, with some of my 6 kids still in grade school and high school. And I was NOT the youngest in my class by any means! I have always been a paid staff member of a parish (in addition to my secular profession) and have been blessed with pastors/parochial vicars who were big supporters of deacons as co-workers in ministry. I know that my situation may be unusual, but I think something like it must become the norm if deacons are to be used to a greater extent for the benefit of the Church. oh and BTW Ed...i don't have a mustache!
First I want to say I am a HUGE supporter of The Pillar and what you are doing for truth in reporting. Thanks for doing a podcast on the diaconate, but I from what I heard I would recommend a refresher by reading, "Understanding the Diaconate" by Bishop Sean McKnight, who has tons of knowledge and experience .
Much of what I heard seemed like an echo of "yesteryear" from the late 70's & 80's. It is way to simplistic to use 2 verses of Scripture (Acts 6:2-3) to define us as "table-waiters" while ignoring the following two entire CHAPTERS of the Word of God (see Acts 7 & 8) which show deacons preaching the Gospel, explaining the Scriptures, evangelizing, working miracles and baptizing . The social service view of the diaconate based on Acts 6:2-3 is from the German Evangelical/Lutheran viewpoint of the mid-20th century which lacks any Catholic theology of Orders.
The podcast seemed to emphasize the ordinary functions of a deacon as things that can be done by extraordinary lay ministers. But our vocation is not defined by what we do, rather by who we are. I think if we look at the identity conferred by the ontological configuration of the Sacrament, then we can better see why Orders has three expressions: Christ the Teacher (bishop), Christ the Priest (presbyter) and Christ the Servant (deacon). All three together make the whole Christ present in ministry by imaging His threefold mission as Messiah (Prophet/Teacher; Priest and King/Royal Servant. If we reduce ordained ministry to function then really all we truly need as essential to the Church are the bishops for they possess all sacramental three identities and full apostolic authority.
Mostly an old men's club? Perhaps once upon a time or in certain dioceses and I think this might be true here if I look at those who went long before me in my Archdiocese. But I was ordained a deacon 11 years ago, firmly in middle age, with some of my 6 kids still in grade school and high school. And I was NOT the youngest in my class by any means! I have always been a paid staff member of a parish (in addition to my secular profession) and have been blessed with pastors/parochial vicars who were big supporters of deacons as co-workers in ministry. I know that my situation may be unusual, but I think something like it must become the norm if deacons are to be used to a greater extent for the benefit of the Church. oh and BTW Ed...i don't have a mustache!