This is NOT an official site of any denomination, but represents the views of the author only.
This page is for sharing our experiences as we try to serve God and our fellows. Please feel free to tell others how God has blessed you and others. Also, share any tips you may have for effectively performing your duties.
I was ordained a deacon at the age of 18, in 1972. I've lived in the gamut of jurisdictions: congregation in a stake; mission and branch in a district; unorganized area; and Graceland College. So, my experience has been rather varied. In Independence, I was pretty much relegated to ushering and occaisionally offering a public prayer. While at Graceland, I was director of ushering. I became sort of a deacon's advocate, surveying their educational interests and setting up a couple of quorums. Since women were being allowed to help with the ushering for the first time (1974-75), I developed and led a short course on worship and ushering.
My experience in districts included some teaching and preaching. In these small groups, there was usually someone who enjoyed the ushering more than I did, so I let them do it. In the mission, I was treasurer, assistant branch president, director of home ministry, worship coordinator, and newsletter editor. Since there were only 3-4 ministers, there was a rotation on Sundays for the preaching, presiding, and ushering. Generally, the bigger the group and the closer to Independence, the greater the emphasis on ushering.
I've been in the Detroit International Stake for over 16 years. Again, the experience has varied. In my first congregation, I produced a quarterly newsletter and was in charge of getting it delivered to inactive members. I also directed the visiting ministries. In addition to teaching church school classes, I preached some, presided some, and led a community-building workshop. My experience in the second congregation has been mostly ushering, home ministry, and a little preaching.
God has blessed me as I tried to serve in this calling. I feel strongly that part of the deacon's job is to teach people how to get ready for the celebration of communion with God that we usually refer to as worship.
Many of my more positive experiences have come through a ministry of service--cleaning an elderly couple's eaves; washing pots and pans at camps; rocking a baby during a service; visiting with a child about God outside the church so that everyone gets something out of the service; finding ways to help people in need.
Since I orginally put together this website, I've been ordained an elder. My career in the diaconate ended almost 32 years after the day I was ordained a deacon. I continue to support those who have the skills for this office in the church. I hope this information may be of help.