Teemu Räty

“In Moltmann’s understanding, diakonia is following Jesus, the Crucified, and in the horizon of the inbreaking Kingdom of God. Both references are fundamental in order to understand diakonia in its holistic meaning. To follow Jesus implies walking as he did, embracing the poor and the sick, and bringing them healing, salvation, hope and a future, as announced in his ‘manifesto’ in Luke 4:18-19. In”
― Stephanie Dietrich, Diakonia as Christian Social Practice: An Introduction

“diaconal action should consider the root causes of poverty and suffering; it should become more comprehensive, preventative and liberating. Or, as noted above: bold action as mediation and ‘go-between’. The growing acknowledgment of the political implication of diakonia contributed to the framing of the theme ‘prophetic diakonia’ which urged diaconal agencies to stand up against injustice, and promote the rights of the poor and marginalised.”
― Stephanie Dietrich, Diakonia as Christian Social Practice: An Introduction

“This was realised in 1954 when the Institute for Diaconal Studies (Das Diakoniewissenschaftliche Institut – DWI) was established as part of the University of Heidelberg; since then, DWI has played an important role in educating diaconal leadership as well as of promoting research; it has since produced an impressive number of studies on diakonia.”
― Stephanie Dietrich, Diakonia as Christian Social Practice: An Introduction

“Moltmann distinguishes between a general diakonia, the diaconate of all believers, and a specialised diakonia, that of attending demanding challenges – as, for instance, caring for mentally disabled people through institutional and professional work. Such distinctions should not however lead to separation, as often has happened, and he strongly advocates the ‘becoming-diaconal of the congregation as well as the becoming-congregational of diakonia’.”
― Stephanie Dietrich, Diakonia as Christian Social Practice: An Introduction