by Rev Dr. Stephen Paul Bouman, Bishop
Metropolitan New York Synod

Jesus came among us not to be served, but to give His life as a ransom for many. The church, the Body of Christ, continues the self-giving servanthood of Jesus in the midst of the world. The presence of a diaconate among us can help to remind, inspire, organize and lead the church in a renewal of its commitment to servant ministry of the dying and rising Christ.

• A synodical diaconate is centered in and shaped by Word and Sacraments, and always remains connected to these communities of Jesus. The primary area of service is within the congregations and other agencies of our synod. The ministry of the deacon is formed by the needs of congregation and community, but always with a diaconal focus on doing and enabling servant ministry.
• A synodical diaconate is connected to the human needs of the church and the world. Solidarity with the poor (all who are in need of Christ’s servant love) is the primary charism of the diaconate.
• A synodical diaconate is connected to the wider church. In the congregation diaconal ministry is accountable to pastor and church council. But deacons are also accountable to one another in continuing vocational formation. A diaconal council of synodical deacons and others appointed by the bishop is to organize and supervise the activities of the diaconate, including serving as an applications committee for prospective deacons. Their task is to make available for the needs of the wider church a cadre of servants committed to diaconal outreach throughout the synod. Under the oversight of the Bishop, deacons may be deployed from time to time, to service throughout the synod, in consultation with the congregations they serve.
• A synodical diaconate also helps keep ministry connected ecumenically. Many communions (including our own) are utilizing or exploring the diaconate as one way the Spirit may be guiding a renewal of mission and unity. This ministry will organize, support, and give structure to the many congregational expressions of the diaconate, and help connect them to the wider church and to each other.

The ultimate purpose for such a ministry, of course, is mission and outreach — to the poor, the suffering, those without the Gospel — in memory of Servant Jesus, whose self-giving diakonia is at the core of all ordered ministry, and is the wellspring of the common ministry of the Baptized, as we witness and serve in daily life, loving the world Christ died to ransom, and rose to redeem.