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Educational Requirements | Internship Requirements | Leadership | Acceptance | Accountability Grandparenting | Participation | Future Issues . |
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11.2 ELCA rostered deacons will be considered to have fulfilled all requirements of the synodical diaconate, and will require a valid letter of call and description of ministry for admission to the synodical diaconate. At least one meeting with the Application Committee will be necessary.
11.3 Congregationally rostered deacons will be given the opportunity to supply evidence of their past ministry as fulfillment of the internship requirement. The pastor/supervisor will supply detailed information and reflections on the applicant’s practice of ministry. Normally such an alternate fulfillment of the internship requirement will require at least three years of field experience, as in the ELCA Associate in Ministry internship guidelines.
11.4 Prior service as a congregational deacon will not be considered by itself a fulfillment of educational requirements, nor in any way an automatic entre to the synodical diaconate. In all cases the decision of the Application Committee is final.
11.5 In no instance will anyone be admitted to the synodical diaconate without a valid Letter and description of Call.
12. Participation in the Synodical Diaconate
12.1 The Diaconal Council is responsible for the preparation of a detailed set of expectations and requirements for members of the synodical diaconate. The general requirements for participation will include:
• ongoing prayer for diaconate
members and their ministries
• attendance at annual spiritual retreat
• participation in continuing education
• participation as needed in building of synodical diaconate
structure
• maintaining the integrity of local ministerial call
• submission of annual report
12.2 Members of the synodical diaconate cannot at this time enjoy the same mobility as other ministers within the wider church, due to the provisions noted in article 2.3. General rules for mobility within the Metropolitan New York Synod, leaves, etc. will follow the guidelines for ELCA Associates in Ministry. In all cases a valid letter of call will be required to maintain membership in the synodical diaconate, unless one is on leave from call, or some other acceptable status, according to the decision of the Council3.
12.3 Members who receive a new call must file that call document and description of ministry with the Council and with the Bishop in order to remain within the synodical diaconate.
12.4 Because synodical deacons, as well as other associates in ministry within the ELCA, maintain status as lay voting members of the congregations under which they are called even as they participate in a ministerial staff team, care must be exercised to maintain a balance between staff collegiality and appropriate conduct as congregational members. Any ELCA layperson, including a rostered AiM, can serve as an elected lay member of congregation or synod councils, committees or boards. Nonetheless, synod deacons are encouraged to participate on congregation councils as ex officio members, as are pastors, to encourage other non-rostered church members to become involved in leadership, to reinforce their appropriate role as members of the ministerial staff, and to minimize the perception of wielding inappropriate power in the day to day workings of the congregation. The bishop reserves the option of requesting that a deacon not serve in lay elected office, where the bishop feels such participation may adversely affect the parish or its ministry. In all such exercise of congregation participation, synod deacons are expected to behave in a manner which adorns the Gospel, seeks peace and harmony, and preserves the integrity of ministerial and supervisory relationships.
13.1 There are certain to be
issues these initial articles have not been able to address.
A consensual process for conversation and decision making will
insure an ongoing sense of the diaconate as a responsible partner
in the church’s continued mission.
13.2 All proposed additions or alterations to these articles
will be reviewed by the SD Council, in consultation with the
staff liaison and the Bishop. They will then be submitted to
the Leadership Support Committee for discussion and recommendation.
Finally, they will be brought before the Synod Council for approval.
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