Towards a Vision for the Diocese:
The Future Role and Profile of Deacons

A Discussion Held at the Diocesan Diaconal Day
at Maidstone 19^th May 2007

Dr Amand Chitnis first invited those present to introduce themselves and their ministries and then to say what gifts we thought we brought to the work of the Church in Southwark Diocese. It was noticeable that many of these gifts arose from secular and professional life experience. We were then invited to imagine how these gifts could be more fully and effectively used in the Diocese and how the Diocese should face the future. In conclusion Amand Chitnis noted that the Archbishop’s Vision explicitly urges that the future of the diocese needs to be rooted, among other things, in “the present realities that are our challenges and our opportunities” and asked us to consider a number of questions relevant to this approach.
 

GIFTS:

Among many gifts mentioned were the following:

- Understanding people, listening, being open to people, enabling them to talk;

- Thinking strategically, laterally, methodically, organisational skills, fund-raising;

- Music, singing, teaching, putting complex ideas across, foreign languages, liturgy;

- Communication, interpreting and explaining the Gospel;

- Making people feel special, praying with people

- Staying calm, defusing volatile arguments bringing healing and peace, settling disputes;

- Getting people to laugh, making people feel wanted and important;

- Explaining things, preaching.
 

 FACING THE FUTURE:

 - There should be a renewed surge to promote vocations to the priesthood and prayers for these vocations. But it would not be realistic to imagine that all our problems would be solved if the seminaries were filled.

- A “crisis” in affairs, if this is one, is a moment of judgement and a moment of opportunity.

- There needs to be better and more consistent coordination of resources, especially in the provision of the Sacraments. There needs to be someone to ensure that parishes, schools, hospitals and prisons are provided. This may well imply fewer parish Masses but this would not be a serious loss in most parishes.

- Priests tend to work as “one-man bands”. There is a need for teams and for training in team-work.

- Deacons are appointed to deaneries but their work is commonly restricted to one parish. We would welcome more deanery and diocesan work.

- More should be done to promote the diaconate and every parish should have materials available for this.

- The hearts and minds of lay people need to be raised to mission outside and beyond their own parishes. Very often there is a sense of complacency in parishes.

- It would be less daunting in the future to share resources, programmes and sacraments among many parishes rather than try to concentrate everything into a few big parishes.

- There is a great need for on-going formation of adults. Not just R.C.I.A. and not just Sunday homilies. We need a tool other than “Alpha” for the first stage and then more to follow it.

- Publicity for the Church is invariably adverse. Yet we have very little publicity of our own. A diocesan newspaper might counteract this and give a greater sense of community and mission.

- People are frequently not aware of the good things going on in the Church. This year’s Rite of Election was proof positive that the Church is alive; yet no-one wanted to publicise it.

- There has been a bad press for the Church ever since the Reformation. We need to get the message out, give inspiration and a sense of purpose and life.
 

THE GIFTS OF DEACONS AND THE NEEDS OF THE FLOCK:

- Many of the gifts the Deacons own to are highly appropriate to the present age, but are they being used and/or how might they be better used? And what structures/provision might be required?

- Is the appropriate focus to remain the parish or cluster of parishes? Or should there be a “new” focus that is on identifiable groups and needs, such as students, the sick, prisoners, migrants and families?

- Is there also scope for addressing the people across the diocese who face the daily grind of the performance culture which characterises today’s world of work?

- Marriage is a common area in which deacons make a contribution. Could this be developed, e.g. to assist those marriages which cross different faiths and cultures and which are increasingly common in the London area?

- Our deacons are aware of so much of these matters because they are themselves rooted in civil society as well as having an ecclesiastical ministry. Is there a danger of being too “parochial” or inward looking?