In the Methodist Church of Great Britain, deacons (a term used for both men and women) are members of an order called the Methodist Diaconal Order (MDO).[1] The MDO is both a religious order and an order of ministry. One distinctive feature of the Methodist ecclesiology is that a deacon has a permanent ministry and remains as a deacon – it is not a transitional step toward becoming a presbyter. The diaconate is regarded as equal yet distinct from the presbyterate, and it places a particular emphasis on service.[2]
the MDO reports to have "over 280" deacons,[1] who follow a common Rule of Life.
Wesleyan Deaconesses and the Wesley Deaconess Order were founded by the Rev. Thomas Bowman Stephenson in 1890.[3] Deaconesses began to work overseas from 1894 following a request for a deaconess to serve in South Africa.[4]
In the 1960s, the Deaconess Order decided that membership would be lifelong, ending the previous practice of leaving upon marriage.[3]
In the late 20th century, the diaconate was restored as a vocational order in many Western churches, with deacons gaining recognition as equals to presbyters. Accordingly, the Methodist Conference of 1998 admitted all existing members of the renamed Methodist Diaconal Order into "full connexion"—becoming ordained to a full-time, life-long ministry. Members of the MDO gather annually for a convocation, echoing the practices of its predecessor, the Deaconess Order.
In 2018, it was reported that there were 127 deacons active, 9 student deacons, and 118 supernumerary (retired) deacons.
Formerly, deaconesses were addressed as Sister, but since the admission of men to the order, and once it became an order of ministry as well as a religious order, all members are now officially titled "Deacon".[3] The term "deaconess" is no longer used.
There is no formal habit or uniform for a Methodist deacon: some deacons may decide to wear what is regarded as 'traditional dress' for the MDO – a navy blue suit and a white shirt of blouse, particularly for formal occasions, while others may feel that they would prefer to wear the polo shirts and sweat shirts commissioned by the MDO particularly if the circumstances are less formal. Deacons are permitted to wear clerical shirts; however, these must be navy blue or white and deacons must wear the diaconal order badge they were presented with at their Ordination. The badge of the MDO is an important identifier for Methodist deacons.