Deacons have their own sacramental identity as servant leaders despite some people's perception of them as "substitute priests," said Deacon William Ditewig during his Religious Education Congress workshop March 4 addressing the role of deacons in today's church.

Ditewig, the USCCB's executive director for the Secretariats for the Diaconate and Evangelization, acknowledged that "the lines are converging" between the ministries of priests and deacons with the ongoing priest shortage and the steady worldwide rise in the number of permanent deacons and lay ecclesial ministers. "This situation puts pressures on all three groups," Ditewig said.

According to Ditewig, there are close to 16,000 U.S. deacons (35,000 worldwide) and 28,000 U.S. diocesan priests among which 8,000 are retired. Currently, he noted, more than a third of American deacons have entered into full-time ecclesial employment. Historically, deacons are not paid, but those hired for positions such as parish life director or pastoral associate receive professional ministerial salaries.

This situation, said Ditewig, can infer that deacons' roles are mainly parish-centered. "There's more to being a deacon than simply being a parish minister," said Ditewig. The basic attitude of the deacon, he noted, must include having a "perceptive eye" for those suffering in the diocese so they can alert their bishop to people's needs.

"The reason the deacon was given the dalmatic [tunic to wear] was to show the relationship between the deacon and [his] bishop," said Ditewig. He emphasized that deacons are ordained by the bishop for direct service to the people of God, whether serving primarily in a parish setting or spearheading/supporting ministries in the greater community.

"Deacons are not an abridged or substitute form of priesthood," declared Ditewig. He said priests and deacons need to develop genuine respect for each other's sacramental identity. The goal of deacons, he stressed, is not simply "helping out" but "empowering life" within their personal, professional and/or parish communities.

"Deacons must be the 'contact partner' for all those in need," said Ditewig. With their visible presence in the community, Ditewig said, deacons can help others be aware of "the connection between faith and life."

He listed "ten points to ponder" for those in the permanent diaconate:
---The ordained diaconate is a radical commitment to share Christ's kenotic (self-emptying) mission.
---Deacons' relationship with their bishop is critical.
---Deacons' readiness to serve is essential.
---Deacons should minister out of their comfort zone.
---Deacons shouldn't get stuck in old patterns of ministry.
---Deacons must avoid getting co-opted to someone else's ministry.
---Deacons might take St. Paul's missionary style as an example of starting ministries and moving on.
---Deacons must always think and act with the church.
---Deacons may minister anywhere, including outside the parish
---Deacons must remember to lead balanced lives with priorities of God, family, job and ministry in proper sequential order.

And, don't even think about calling the permanent diaconate a "program" instead of a vocation, Ditewig quipped before taking questions from the many workshop deacons and deacon couples present.

Deacon Mike Wofford, 51, serving at Annunciation Cathedral in the Diocese of Stockton, said he found Ditewig's talk full of tangible ways to minister as a deacon. "After several years of parish ministry, you get caught up in ecclesial ways of the parish," said Wofford.

As a medical policy staff member for the California Department of Health Services, Wofford said Ditewig's talk inspired him to take on a project he has been considering: going out and assessing the needs of the many mentally ill and homeless around his midtown parish, "rather than waiting."

Deacon Karl Welsbacher, 52, who serves at St. Anne Church in Lodi (also in the Stockton Diocese), said he could identify with scenarios Ditewig had mentioned about deacons' readiness to serve, even after retirement, and deacons' Christian witness in the workplace. And he praised Stockton Bishop Stephen Blaire for his strong support of Stockton deacons: "Bishop Blaire is very supportive of us."