deacon

A deacon is a member of the Christian ministry elected or ordained to serve the church and its community, often focusing on service, charity, and liturgical assistance. The term comes from the Greek diakonos, meaning servant or minister, and early Christian writings describe deacons as people chosen to assist with practical duties and the distribution of resources to the poor.

Historically, deacons emerged in the earliest church as a distinct order, with the Acts of the Apostles recounting appointive roles to ensure proper care for widows and the needy. Over time, the deaconate developed into a formal ministry within several traditions, taking on liturgical functions and, in some regions, governance responsibilities alongside priests or pastors.

In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the deaconate is an ordained ministry. In Catholicism, there are transitional deacons (preparing for priesthood) and permanent deacons. Deacons may proclaim the Gospel, preach sermons, baptize, witness marriages, preside over certain liturgical services, assist at the Eucharist, and administer certain sacraments and rites, but they do not celebrate the Eucharist as the principal celebrant. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, deacons have a distinctive liturgical role within the service and are part of the broader hierarchy of clergy.

In many Protestant, Anglican, and some Lutheran and Methodist communities, deacons may be ordained or appointed as a diaconate focused on service and administration, especially in charity, missions, and church governance. In these contexts, the role can be broader or more lay-centered, and practices regarding preaching and sacramental duties vary by denomination. Some churches also maintain non-ordained lay deacon roles or historic forms such as deaconesses.

Gender and ordination practices vary widely: some denominations ordain women as deacons, while others restrict the role to men. The deaconate remains a flexible and context-dependent office within Christianity.