Distinctive

Deacon

How does ordination work in the Church of England?

The Church of England describes its ordained ministry as "the ministry of Christ, its chief shepherd and high priest". It is "Christ's gift to his Church".

(Introduction by the House of Bishops in Common Worship)

Since the 1550s the Church has designated its ordained ministry threefold, sequential and cumulative: all are ordained deacon, most are the ordained priest and a few ordained bishop.

Deacons minister in pattern of Jesus who washed his disciples' feet. (John 13. 14) Priests minister in the pattern of Jesus the Good Shepherd who laid down his life and continual to exercise diaconal ministry (for they always remain a Deacon as well as a Priest). Bishops embody the ministry of both Deacon and Priest.

What is a Distinctive Deacon?

Distinctive Deacons are those following a calling to remain solely in deacon's orders of whom Lucy is one.

What does is mean to follow the pattern of Jesus who washed his disciple's feet?

Footwashing was common in Jesus' day but it might seem a rather strange custom in the twenty-first century. However in doing this Jesus was giving all Christians, and certainly Christian leaders, an example to follow, an example to improvise upon. It is a ministry of welcome, a ministry that seeks to transform edge places into somewhere where people can be at home and meet with the living God. 'Edge places' are all around us, within and without the church and the Holy Spirit gives endless creativity to transform them into spacious places of hope.

Where can I find out more?

Lucy is on the Steering Group of the Church of England Network of Distinctive Deacons (CENDD). You'll find all sorts of information on their website here.

You can read Lucy's Master's Dissertation The Distinctive Diaconate in the Contemporary Church of England for which she gained a distinction and a Dean's Prize, here. Lucy is due to continue her research, starting a PhD at Darwin College, University of Cambridge, in October 2026.

Lucy is also developing worship materials for those interesting in reflecting on following in the way of Jesus who washed his disciples' feet including:

Meditation@5

Lucy leads a service of Meditation on John 13 every fourth Sunday of every month at St Andrew's at 5pm.

All are welcome and it is followed by . . .

The Fellowship of the Feet

This service is followed by a meal for those who want to discuss Jesus' example and how we might help each other learn to receive from Jesus so we can minister like Jesus.

Recommended Reading

Inferior Offfice? A History of Deacons in the Church of England, Francis Young (James Clarke & Co, 2015)

Being a Deacon Today: Exploring a Distinctive Ministry in the Church and in the World, Rosalind Brown (Canterbury Press, 2005)

Lucy is currently an Ordinand (someone training for Ordination in the Church of England) and is due to be ordained in June 2027. She is following a calling to the Distinctive Diaconate.