In theMethodist Church of Great Britain,deacons (a term used for both men and women) are members of an order called theMethodist Diaconal Order (MDO).[1] The MDO is both areligious order and an order ofministry.[a] One distinctive feature of the Methodistecclesiology is that a deacon has a permanent ministry and remains as a deacon – it is not a transitional step toward becoming apresbyter.[b] The diaconate is regarded as equal yet distinct from thepresbyterate, but, as a religious order, it places a particular emphasis onChristian 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 theWesleyan 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 hisChildren's Homes.[4] The Deaconesses began to work overseas from 1894 following a request for a deaconess to serve in South Africa.[5]
AfterMethodist Union in 1932, the Wesleyan Deaconesses were joined by theUnited Methodist Deaconesses andPrimitive 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 1973Methodist Conference decision toopen 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 themselvescalled 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 manyWestern 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"—becomingordained to a full-time, life-long ministry.[8] Members of the MDO gather annually for aconvocation, 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 asSister, 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 formalhabit 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 wearclerical 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.[citation needed]