Digital Continent Winter 2019 | Page 17

The deacons will be called to the diaconate of Christ. Jesus lived a life of service, at the Last Supper, Jesus will wash the disciple’s feet and tell them, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13:15 NABRE) The early Church, in seeing to its responsibility to its faithful will establish ministries to serve the worshipping community in all its needs. Christ’s Church will establish, through a prayerful, public, structured i.e. liturgical process, the hierarchy of the Church. This hierarchy is established to see to the pastoral needs of the worshipping community. In this hierarchy the deacons are to be the co- workers of the Bishops. This relationship with the Bishop is evident in letters from Church fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch, and Saint Polycarp. In St Ignatius’ writings he will refer to deacons on numerous occasions as “fellow servants.” He uses this term with affection, communicating loving identification and respect. 9 Deacons in this period of the Church will be assistants to the Bishop in all things. In his letter to the Ephesians, Ignatius refers to a deacon named Burrhus, who is a 9 James C. Exparza. The Diaconate: A Challenge from the Past (Bloomington, IN: Author House, 2009), xv 9