by Madeleine Collins
The move to create a new office of ‘minister’ that generated interest at last year’s Synod is no longer a preferred option to grow the number of people entering into ministry, with the broadening of the role of deacons being advocated instead.
The rethink came last month after Sydney’s Standing Committee approved a motion asking Synod to revisit the debate.
Under the new proposal, the current structure that sets every male deacon on a path to becoming a rector would be overhauled. In its place will be a permanent or ‘distinctive’ diaconate, with new selection standards and an easier system of resigning holy orders when someone is no longer licensed as a deacon.
The motion aims to ‘break the nexus’ between the diaconate and the priesthood by making new requirements for ordination to the presbyterate in order to ‘reflect the real character of that ministry’.
Deacons would be allowed to become youth and children’s workers, chaplains and be employed in other forms of full time paid ministry without the pressure of an automatic and preferred trajectory towards the priesthood.
The move is spearheaded by the Mission Taskforce and Dean Phillip Jensen, Director of Ministry Training and Development.
It comes after concern that a fourth category, as distinct from bishops, priests and deacons, would require a more complex legislative change to the existing three orders of ordination in the Anglican Church of Australia, and would not be recognised outside Sydney Diocese.
Last year’s Synod held an open-ended debate on the merits of changing paid ministry structures in the hope of seeing a huge increase in church attendance in line with the 10 per cent goal. The discussions generated hundreds of suggestions that have been evaluated by the Mission Taskforce.
The role of Lay Stipendiary Workers would not change, but Dean Jensen expects the numbers entering these positions to decrease if the move went ahead.
“There are lots of Lay Stipendiary Workers who are doing as much Christian ministry as any ordained minister, but they do not receive the recognition,” the Dean said. “Nearly a third of all those employed in the Diocese are now employed under those kinds of titles – it might be even higher. It’s a tidying up legislation.”
He admitted the existing ordination structure of deacon as a ‘probationary’ rector is counter productive in encouraging people to leave jobs and enter ministry, particularly women.
“It’s very simple if you want to be the rector of a parish. If you want anything other than that, it’s quite complicated to know what training do I need, what certification do I receive, what place do I have in the total system. We find that unnecessarily cumbersome and difficult. This just makes it simpler for more people.”
Anglican Youthworks CEO the Rev Alan Stewart welcomed the recommendation, saying it recognises a ministry that is sometimes seen as ‘reserve grade’. “It would help people see how they can stay in youth and children’s ministry long term,” Mr Stewart said. “Only a few people have managed it in the past.”
Vice Principal of Moore Theological College, the Rev Michael Hill, also welcomed the move. “It gives a more corporate rationale to the whole process rather than an individual’s desire to do it,” he said.
However, Mr Hill claimed it would not ‘boost numbers dramatically’ at the college because students who do not become candidates for ordination are already adept at raising finances and finding employment in other ministries within Sydney.
A permanent diaconate has been debated in the Diocese for over 20 years. It already exists in dioceses in Canada, the United States and Africa.
