Head Deaconess Duties

Overview

Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images

The word deaconess is derived from "diakonos," a Greek word meaning "helper" or "servant." Deaconess was an important role in the church from the time of St. Paul until the Middle Ages when the role began to die out. The role was revived in the 19th century as part of a general spiritual revival in Europe and the Americas. Deaconesses can be found in several denominations, their role varying in each.

In the Reformed Episcopal Church a deaconess is a woman called to perform lay ministry and is dedicated to lifelong service to the church. She wears a distinctive blue habit, white collar and a unique cross. Her duties include caring for the sick, giving instruction in the faith, assisting with baptism, reading morning and evening prayers, organizing social work, taking responsibility for education of women and children, and looking after the welfare of female college students.

In the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church, a deaconess is trained in theology and may earn a master's degree at LCMS seminaries. Her duties vary but may include nursing, administration, instruction in the faith, mission work, caring for the needy and any other roles needed at both the congregational and institutional levels.

In the United Methodist Church deaconesses are lay women called by God and commissioned by the church to lives of love, justice and service. They are mandated to alleviate suffering, eradicate injustice, facilitate the development of full human potential and help build a global community through the church universal. They are required to be grounded in both the Old and New Testaments as well as the history and doctrines of the United Methodist Church.

In the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a deaconess is a professionally trained woman consecrated to a ministry of service. She must have a solid understanding of Christian theology. Deaconesses are considered the public face of the church and serve a variety of roles, including teacher, counselor, youth worker, hospital worker and social service. They wear crosses inscribed with the verse "The Love of Christ compels us ..." from 2 Corinthians 5:14 as a symbol of their office. They also sometimes wear black dresses with white collars or black suits with white shirts.