In the Anglican churches of North America, and sometimes elsewhere, there are two complaints about deacons in the Bishops and priests complain that deacons don’t know how to do liturgy. Deacons complain that bishops and priests won’t let them do liturgy. The solution lies in liturgical formation, both theological and practical. This book is designed to help provide that formation for bishops, priests, deacons, and indeed for all the people of God.
The introduction provides a brief history of the use of deacons in Anglican liturgies, from 1549 to the present, including characteristics and statement of purposes.
The diaconate in the Episcopal Church USA has had an interesting history. After years of being dormant, the deacons came back on the scene in many dioceses in the 1990s. The age of the "new" deacons is not very long. Hence, we need books like this that give us the sense of history and tradition.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this powerful little volume. It made clear the need of and the functionality of Deacons in the worship life of every congregation. As a bishop I learned much that, unfortunately, I didn’t already know. I’m going to meet with my Deacons and Remedy many things in our relationships and worship leading capacities.