Methodist Diaconal Order

In the Methodist Church of Great Britain, deacons (a term used for both men and women) are members of an order called the Methodist Diaconal Order (MDO).^[1] The MDO is both a religious order and an order of ministry.^{[lower-alpha 1]} One distinctive feature of the Methodist ecclesiology is that a deacon has a permanent ministry and remains as a deacon – it is not a transitional step toward becoming a presbyter.^{[lower-alpha 2]} The diaconate is regarded as equal yet distinct from the presbyterate, but, as a religious order, it places a particular emphasis on Christian service.^[2][3]

As of 2024^[update] the MDO reports to have "over 280" deacons,^[1] who follow a common Rule of Life.

Wesleyan Deaconesses and the Wesleyan Deaconess Order were founded by the Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson in 1890.^[4] Stephenson saw that women had a unique role in Christian service, as they could visit homes that were inaccessible to men. They worked in association with his Children's Homes.^[4] The Deaconesses began to work overseas from 1894 following a request for a deaconess to serve in South Africa.^[5]

After Methodist Union in 1932, the Wesleyan Deaconesses were joined by the United Methodist Deaconesses and Primitive Methodist Sisters to become the Wesley Deaconess Order (WDO) of the Methodist Church.^[4]

In the 1960s, the Order decided that membership would be lifelong, ending the previous practice of leaving upon marriage.^[4] The 1973 Methodist Conference decision to open presbyteral ministry to women had a profound impact on the Order, initiating debates about its future.^[4] As a result, Conference agreed to cease recruitment for the WDO from 1978. However, there were still Methodists who believed themselves called to a diaconal ministry. Eventually in 1986 the Order was re-opened to both men and women.^[6]

In the late 20th century, the diaconate was restored as a vocational order in many Western churches, with deacons gaining recognition as equals to presbyters.^[7] Accordingly, the Methodist Conference of 1998 admitted all existing members of the renamed Methodist Diaconal Order into "full connexion"—becoming ordained to a full-time, life-long ministry.^[8] Members of the MDO gather annually for a convocation, echoing the practices of its predecessor, the WDO.^[6]

In 2018, it was reported that there were 127 deacons active, 9 student deacons, and 118 supernumerary (retired) deacons.^[6]

Formerly, deaconesses were addressed as Sister, but since the admission of men to the order, and once it became an order of ministry as well as a religious order, all members are now officially titled "Deacon".^[4][9] The term "deaconess" is no longer used.

There is no formal habit or uniform for a Methodist deacon. Some deacons may choose to wear what is regarded as 'traditional dress' for the MDO, namely a navy blue suit with a white shirt or blouse, particularly for formal occasions, while others may prefer to wear the polo shirts and sweatshirts commissioned by the MDO, particularly if the circumstances are less formal.^[10] Deacons are permitted to wear clerical shirts; however, these must be navy blue or white and deacons must wear the diaconal order badge they were presented with at their Ordination.^[10] The badge of the MDO is an important identifier for Methodist deacons.

• Deacon § Methodist churches
• Deaconess

• Epting, Susanne Watson (2015). Unexpected Consequences: The Diaconate Renewed. Church Publishing, Inc.. ISBN 978-0-8192-2979-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=W1DGBwAAQBAJ. 
• Graham, E. Dorothy (2002). Saved to Serve: Story of the Wesley Deaconess Order, 1890–1978. Werrington: Methodist Pub. House. ISBN 9781858522241. 
• Orton, Andrew; Stockdale, Todd (2014). Making Connections: Exploring Methodist Deacons' Perspectives on Contemporary Diaconal Ministry. Sacristy Press. ISBN 9781908381194. http://dro.dur.ac.uk/12956/1/12956.pdf. Retrieved 20 December 2019. 
• Vickers, John A., ed (2018). "Diaconate". https://dmbi.online/index.php?do=app.entry&id=827. 

• The Diaconal Order – The Methodist Church website

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