Administration

Director of Deacons
Job Description

Appointment and Accountability

The Director of Deacons shall be appointed by and will be accountable to the Bishop of the Diocese of Spokane.

Term of Office

The Director of Deacons shall be appointed for a term of six years with the possibility of renewal.  The Director may be removed at any time by the Bishop of Spokane.

Basic Function

The Director of Deacons is responsible for the overall administration of ordained deacons in the areas of ministry and continuing formation, both educational and spiritual.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Represents the Bishop of Spokane to the deacons, (individually and collectively) where necessary.
  2. Represents the deacons (individually and collectively) and their concerns to the Bishop in situations as necessary.
  3. Acts as an ex-officio member of the Deacon Advisory Council and its’ standing committees.
  4. Insures the implementation of approved Diocesan policies regarding the Diaconate.
  5. Makes recommendations to the Deacon Advisory Council concerning policies relating to the Permanent Diaconate.
  6. Maintains contact with pastors, agencies, diocesan offices and other appropriate parties regarding the ministry of deacons.
  7. Acts as Diocesan representative to local, regional and national organizations associated with diaconal ministry.
  8. Maintains contact with each deacon.  The means of the contact will be personal discussion and the annual report of the deacon.
  9. Co-ordinates the work of any associate director(s) or special consultant(s) needed to fulfill the responsibilities listed above.
  10. Maintains deacon personnel files in the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.
  11. Supervises the Deacon Personnel Board.

  

Director of Deacon Formation

Job Description
 

Accountable to: The Bishop of Spokane

Must be Priest or Deacon and is appointed by the Bishop for a term of six (6) years or at the bishop’s pleasure.

Is an ex officio member of the Deacon Council and reports to them information he thinks to be for the good of the Diaconate of the Diocese of Spokane.

Basic Function:

To administer the Deacon Formation program according to the policies and guidelines approved by the Bishop.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

  1. Appoints the Deacon Formation Committee and is an ex officio member of said committee.
  2. Contributes to the development of the process for the screening of candidates for the Deacon Formation Program.
  3. Coordinates the work of any Associate Directors of Deacon Formation – who shall be appointed by the Bishop – needed to fulfill their responsibilities.
  4. Is responsible for implementing the Deacon Formation Program including:
    1. Implementation of the dimensions and perspectives in formation ie:  human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral
    2. Regularly scheduled assessments and maintains accurate and up to date files for each participant
    3. Home and parish visits of candidates and those in formation
    4. The formation team, the faculty and the mentors
    5. Contact with pastors
    6. Pastoral care of aspirants and candidates
    7. Use of necessary facilities
    8. Guidance and evaluation sessions with participants
  5. Provides evaluation reports to the Bishop regarding the participants
  6. Brings issues of concern to the Deacon Formation Committee
  7. Provides inservice for the Deacon Formation Committee

 

Deacon Formation Committee

The Deacon Formation Committee is constituted to assist the Deacon Formation Director in developing and implementing the deacon formation program which complies with directives approved by the Bishop.

Members of the committee are appointed by the Bishop upon recommendation by the Director of Deacon Formation and the Director of Deacons.  Membership of the committee shall consist of up to six persons and shall include deacons and wives or widows of deacons.  Members are appointed to serve through the formation of one class.  They may be re-appointed for the formation of a second class. 

Activities of the committee include:

1.   Participate in the screening of candidates for entrance into the deacon formation program.

2.   Make recommendations to the Director of Deacon Formation regarding acceptance of aspirants in the deacon formation program.

3.    Make recommendations to the Director of Deacon Formation regarding the readiness of participants in the deacon formation program for Candidacy to Orders, for installation to the ministries of Lector and  Acolyte and for ordination to the office of Deacon.

4.    Engage in continued study and reflection on the ministry of deacons and its’ implications for the deacon formation program.

  

Deacon Personnel Board

The Bishop is the personnel director of the Diocese. 

The Bishop may choose to provide assistance to the Director of Deacons by appointing a group of deacons identified as the Deacons’ Personnel Board.  This board reports to the Director of Deacons.  It is totally separate from the Deacon Council.

a.    The board shall consist of the Director of Deacons (ex-officio) and up to four deacons incardinated in the Diocese and in good standing.

b.    A secretary may be appointed, not necessarily as a board member, but to take notes and mail out notifications and agendas.

c.    The term of office is three years.  A member may be re-appointed  for one additional consecutive term.

 

The Personnel Board can be dissolved by the Bishop.

All members of this board are bound by charity to strict confidentiality regarding matters dealt with by the board.

The Director of Deacons will retain reports of the Board in the deacon’s file.  When appropriate, proceedings may be discussed by the board.

The Board will conduct a performance appraisal of individual deacons when requested.  This request may be made by the Bishop, the appropriate pastoral authority, the Director of Deacons or the deacon himself.  The results of each appraisal will be given in writing to the Director of Deacons who will communicate them to the Bishop and the deacon.

The Board will seek to identify Diaconal opportunities within the diocese.

An Annual Report form will be sent to each deacon in January of each year, with a request that the deacon describe his service and continuing education during the previous calendar year.  These reports, after submission to the Director of Deacons, may be referred to the Committee for review.  A copy will be retained in the Deacon’s personnel file.

 

Deacon Life and Ministry Committee

Responsibilities

  1. Plan at least one retreat annually for the deacon community.  This includes seeking input from the Deacon Council, selection of Retreat Director(s), securing a date and facility, planning the type of retreat and notifying diaconal community after approval by the Deacon Council.  Retreats should be planned at least one year in advance.
     
  1. Plan and implement an on-going program of continuing formation, continuing education, and social events for the diaconal community.
     
  1. Maintain regular communication with the diaconal community concerning opportunities for prayers chains, illnesses, hospitalizations and other news of interest to the community. (A newsletter may be a means of communication).
     
  1. Offer support and assistance to the family of a deceased deacon, wife or widow in planning funeral arrangements.
     
  1. Recommend policies to the Deacon Council.

 

Procedure

1.   The Deacon Life and Ministries Committee assists the Deacon Council and reports to that body.

2.   The chairperson and the members are appointed by the Deacon Council.

3.   The chairperson is an elected member of the Deacon Council.  The other members of the committee are not required to be members of the Deacon Council.


Office of the Diaconate
429 E Sharp Avenue  Spokane, WA 99207
(509) 326-3761