Atlantic District Diaconate Program

Greetings in the Precious Name of Jesus!

The Office of Deacon in the Atlantic District is a source of joy and comfort to God's people! Those trained to bring the Good News in Word and Service under local Pastoral authority are most appropriately commissioned as Deacons. The guidelines which follow are made available for individuals to discern God's will for their personal involvement; for pastors and churches to discern the ways in which deacons can serve; to outline the course of studies and accountable ministry involvement that lead toward commissioned deacon status; and to outline the process of authorization and continuation of commissioned deacon status.

The Atlantic District is pleased to join the Church through the ages in celebrating the gift of diaconal service among God's Holy People.

The Diaconate

The diaconate is a group of people committed to service in and for the Church, a group which has its roots in the New Testament and has a history of development and usage in the Church catholic from its beginnings to the present.

The diaconate has had a variety of definitions over time and has included a broad range of people, privileges, and responsibilities. Sometimes it has included mostly people who were taking a step toward the office of pastor or priest. At other times it has been thought of as an order of people who represented the Church in service to her members and to the world through works of mercy and witness, thus supplementing the office of pastor as well as amplifying and supporting the ministry of all baptized. This latter sense defines the district diaconate.

2006 New Structure for Diaconate Program

Atlantic District Vice Presidents:

Region 1 Vice President:Rev. James Jaekel
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Saratoga Springs 518-584-0904
Church Email:  jjaekel@spelcss.com      Home Email:  jjaekel1@nycap.rr.com 

Region 2 Vice President: Rev. Dr. Robert Hartwell
Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville 914-337-0207
pastorh@vlc-ny.org

Region 3 Vice President: Rev. Vernon Schultheis
Christ Lutheran Church, Woodside 718-639-3945
VernSNY@aol.com

Region 4 Vice President: Rev. Charles Froehlich
St. Luke Lutheran Church, Dix Hills 631-499-8656
pastorf@st-luke-lutheran.org

A) Vice-Presidential Regional Committee for Diaconal Ministry Responsibilities

Vice-Presidential Regional Committee responsibilities include:

**Deacon Formation Course Planning and Implementation according to syllabus, including:
1. Securing teachers
2. Securing locations
3. Ordering books and receiving funds for books from students
4. Sending to teachers and receiving from teachers student attendance/evaluation forms (being developed and sent in separate email)
5. Coordination of online/in-person training options in conjunction with Mission Training Center for students who cannot meet in regional grouping

**Record maintenance including:
1. Holding a copy of the application form and student record
2. Following up on any issues stemming from initial application including pastor/congregation approvals
3. Holding student record including attendance and successful completion of course work
4. Copy of record of payments
5. Copy of AD record on payment to teachers - teachers to be paid upon submission of student attendance/course evaluation/grade forms.
6. Conducting and holding record of Deacon Interviews (the regional committee is the interview committee), initial and final
7. copy of interview results to AD office

**Coordinating the annual deacon graduation/pre-commissioning service:
1. Selection of date
2. Selection of location
3. Selection of participants
4. Worship/service/event planning

**Development of Continuing Education Options including:
1. Course work/growth and service opportunities, such as Deacon Track at Festival of Workshops, regional study groups for example
2. Maintenance of commissioned deacon records in terms of continuing education mandate

B) Atlantic District Office Responsibilities Pertaining to Board for Diaconal Ministries

Atlantic District Office Responsibilities include (in conjunction and coordination with regional committee):

**Deacon File Maintenance: File on each deacon and diaconal student including:
1. Original of application
2. Student records including copy of teacher evaluation for each course
3. Tuition records including invoices and payments
4. Copy of continuing education file from regional committee
5. Original of background check file

**Roster of Deacon Teachers including:
1. Names of teachers
2. Curriculum vitae of teachers
3. Dates taught and course taught
4. Dates of payments for teaching

**Deacon/Deacon Student Financial Account
1. File on each student and/or deacon including
2. Invoice for classes ($150 per class)
3. Payment and receipt for payment for each class
4. Copy of receipts for payment of books and materials

**Diaconal Teacher Financial Account
1. File on teachers including
2. Check number of payment for teaching

Click here to Download a PDF of the Diaconate Guidelines