The Diocese of
Southwark
Vocations
Exploring Vocation to the
Distinctive Diaconate
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced to provide further information about the distinctive diaconate as a
recognised ministerial pathway within the Diocese of Southwark. By a number of different routes there
are currently several individuals in the diocese who are exercising the ordained ministry of deacon in a
context which means that it is unlikely that they will want to be, or be expected to be ordained priest.
There have not been many candidates who have offered for this distinctive ministry, but it is one to which
we would seek to encourage greater reflection and discernment, especially in view of the call from the
Church of England more widely to foster a significant growth in the number and diversity of vocations to
the whole range of lay and ordained ministries over the next five years.
What is a Distinctive Deacon?
In the Church of England’s Ordinal, deacons are ordained “so that the people of God may be better
equipped to make Christ known. Theirs is a life of visible self-giving. Christ is the pattern of their calling
and their commission; as he washed the feet of his disciples, so they must wash the feet of others”.
Deacons may teach, preach, baptise and lead the church community in prayer. They may have a particular
care for the vulnerable and marginalised. Although, for all embarking on priestly ministry, the diaconate
is transitional, the distinctiveness of the diaconate should not be lost, and there is a genuine validity in
this ministry of service and proclaiming the Gospel being a particular vocation – not least as being a
ministry that has its roots firmly in the earliest churches of the New Testament.
Relationship with Other Forms of Ministry
Like priests but unlike readers, deacons are ordained. Within Anglican theology there are varieties of
understanding as to the effect and nature of ordination. These differences aside, it is nevertheless the
case that the Church invests the ordained with a wider authority than readers. This is expressed not just
in what they are authorised to do, but also in how they are perceived. For most people outside the Church
(and many within), deacons and priests are virtually indistinguishable; both may wear clerical collars, and
their words and actions represent God in a special way.
Those for whom the iconic nature of ordination is an inherent part of their sense of calling – in such a way
that they would not believe their vocation could flourish if they remained a lay person – and yet those
whose call is primarily to service and an ambassadorial role on the boundaries of the Church might well
be suited to the distinctive diaconate. This is an important point to bear in mind, as those called to the
distinctive diaconate will need to understand their calling in the context of an ordained ministry with the
expectations, pressures and sacrifices placed on ordained ministers.
Like readers but unlike priests, deacons play a part that is complimentary to leadership within a parish
leadership team. As such, they are released from the constraints of overall responsibility, and so are able
to spend more time in practical ministry: preaching; teaching; nurture; community outreach; work with
children and families; pastoral care; and liturgical preparation. Those for whom such a role would be more
of a release than a restriction – giving them a chance to contribute in a distinctively supportive manner –
might well be called to the distinctive diaconate.
Like readers and priests, deacons have recognizable functions and roles inside and outside the Church.
The deacon, however, has a specific place on the boundaries – both on the interface between the Church
and the world, but also within the life of the congregation.
Selection Procedures
In terms of discernment and selection for this particular ministry, all potential candidates will proceed
through the normal diocesan discernment and selection process and, if suitable, go forward to a national
Bishops' Advisory Panel (BAP). Not only does this ensure some consistency with practice more widely in
the Church of England (which would be important in case of future deployment outside the Diocese of
Southwark), but also fully recognises the diaconate as one of the three orders of ordained ministry; it
takes seriously the distinctiveness of the diaconate as a valid vocational response and particular calling in
itself.
Training
As with the selection procedures above, a programme of training is undertaken by distinctive deacons
that ensures a consistency of national standards, which would enable deacons to have the potential to
be deployed beyond their local setting. Candidates follow a three-year, part-time training pathway
specially tailored for the particular needs of the distinctive diaconate at the South East Institute for
Theological Education (SEITE). Distinctive deacons would then continue with a specifically-constructed
IME Phase 2 following ordination, together with other curates in their cohort.
Transfer and Deployment
Where distinctive deacons might wish to explore the possibility of proceeding to priestly ordination, they
would need to be presented to a Candidates’ Panel. Although Candidates’ Panels are different from BAPs,
the interviewing process is very rigorous and candidates are required to provide a carefully-evidenced
rationale for their request to transfer to priestly ministry. This process through the Ministry Division
ensures once more a consistency of standards and expectations across the Church of England.
Ongoing Ministry and Support
Distinctive deacons would be encouraged to meet together for mutual support and consultation as a
continuing chapter. A mentor scheme will be put in place to ensure, particularly in the initial stages, the
flourishing and growth of those ordained as distinctive deacons.
Summary
Diocesan Discernment Process:

The potential candidate is referred to the Diocesan Vocations Department by their Incumbent to
attend a Vocations Forum. This stage would be the same as for SPA, reader, and priestly ministry.

Potential candidates have the option to proceed within the process by working with a Vocations
Adviser. This stage would be the same as for SPA, reader, and priestly ministry. VAs explore the
distinctive nature of diaconal ministry with the candidate, and whether they fulfil the Criteria for
Selection.

Candidates are then allocated to a Director of Ordinands (via the DDO), who continues the work
of discernment in appropriate depth, according to the Criteria for Selection provided centrally by
the Ministry Division.

If, during the work with the Director of Ordinands, and having met with one of the Bishop’s
Examining Chaplains and their Area Bishop, the candidate is assessed to fulfil the Criteria for
Selection, they will be entered for a national Bishops’ Advisory Panel.

If distinctive deacons subsequently wished to explore the possibility of proceeding to priestly
ordination, they would be referred to a national Candidates’ Panel.
Provision of Training:
On being recommended by a BAP, the candidate would be referred to SEITE. The diocese would be
responsible for training costs as with other candidates for ordination. Diaconal candidates would be part
of the cohort of those training for priestly ministry. Following ordination, the deacons would take full part
in the diocesan IME Phase 2 provision alongside curates in their cohort, though with elements focused
on their distinctively diaconal ministry.
Arrangements for Ordination:
The Bishop of Southwark currently ordains to the transitional diaconate at Petertide in the Cathedral. We
would envisage distinctive deacons being ordained on a separate occasion, as a way of emphasizing the
dignity of the order.
Arrangements for Ongoing Support:
A mentor scheme and a network of mutual support overseen by a member of the Bishop’s Staff would
be put in place to enable the flourishing and spiritual development of the distinctive deacons.