Deacons

DEACONS: A Ministry of Servanthood

In the Episcopal Church, a deacon exercises “a special ministry of servanthood” directly under the deacon's bishop, serving all people and especially those in need (BCP, p. 543). This definition reflects the practice of the early church, in which deacons were ordained “not to the priesthood but to the servanthood [diakonia, “ministry”] of the bishop” (Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition). (The Episcopal Church website)

In May 2023, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick sent out an appeal to raise up more deacons in the Diocese, with the goal that every church have at least one deacon. (Read his letter HERE.)

Deacons have many varied ministries: they might serve as chaplains in hospitals or prisons, schools, in the military, or to veterans; they might run food kitchens; they might teach, write, or preach; they might serve in their local parish and/or around their diocese. Many deacons still have full-time secular jobs while ministering (in or outside of the workplace) as an instrument of God’s presence. They are on the frontlines of ministry in the world and inspire others to serve Christ, wherever they are.

In the Diocese of Hawai'i, the Venerable Steve Costa serves as the Archdeacon. His colorful and moving journey to "servanthood" was featured in The Hawaiian Church Chronicle (November 2020). When not accompanying the Bishop, his schedule is devoted to serving the community.

Archdeacon Steve Costa assists Bishop Fitzpatrick during an ordination

Are you sensing a call to the Diaconate? Do you recognize a Deacon in someone else?

Quick links on this page:

Deacons not only take part in worship services, but actively serve in our communities. Here is an alphabetical listing of vocational deacons canoncially resident in the Diocese:

ACTIVE

Lani Bowman, St. Augustine's, Kapa'au, Big Island
Alberta Buller, Church of the Holy Apostles, Hilo, Big Island
Steve Costa (Archdeacon), Honolulu
Lisa Pang. St. John's, Guam
Mary Margaret Smith, St. Michael & All Angels, Lihue, Kaua'i
Robert Steele, Holy Nativity, Honolulu

RETIRED

Honey Becker (living in Louisiana)
Patricia Reynolds, O'ahu
Cris South (Living in California)
Janice Watson (living in Texas)
Peter Wu, O'ahu

Are You Called?

Is God calling you to the diaconate? Pray for discernment about God’s call on your life and let the journey begin. If you have an inkling that you are being called to be a deacon, the following steps will be helpful:

1. Pray. Talk and listen to God.

2. Talk with family members/friends you trust. What do they reflect back to you about this inkling you have?

3. Talk to a leader (rector/vicar/priest-in-charge/deacon/lay leader) at your church about the inkling.

4. Learn about the Diocesan Discernment and Inquiry Process. Visit our Commission on Ministry to find out more.

All Episcopal discernment happens first in the congregational context. It is strongly recommended that you are involved at the parish level for a year before beginning parish discernment.

What Next?

Ordination begins with the nomination of an individual by the person's congregation or other community of faith and continues with a period of formation, overseen by the Commission on Ministry. Throughout the process, the person continues to meet with a congregational Discernment Committee for support and ongoing discernment of God's call.

The first step in the ordination process is discernment of the ministry to which God calls a person: layperson, deacon, or priest. The Commission on Ministry (COM), a diocesan body that helps in the discernment of ministry, has written a document that describes discernment, details what is expected in those to be ordained (and what they can and cannot expect), and outlines the ordination process. The document is "Guidelines for the Discernment of Ministry." Additional information about discernment can be found on the "Discernment for Ministry" page.

The Program: Waiolaihui'ia Center for Ministry
& Bexley Seabury Seminary

Two recommended programs are structured to enable people with full-time jobs to participate in training to become a deacon.

Waiolaihui'ia Center for Ministry (WCM) meets both online and in person one weekend a month for three years. The program uses the curriculum designed by The Iona Center at Seminary of the Southwest (Austin, TX). Instruction includes video lectures, reading assignments, on-site discussion and lectures by local instructors. The curriculum includes: Bible, Church History, Theology and Ethics, Anglican Studies, Homiletics, Liturgy and Music, Pastoral Ministry and Offices, Spiritual Practices, Theory and Practice of Ministry, Congregational Life and Leadership, and Multicultural Engagement.

The demands of the program are rigorous and while sessions are once a month, students should expect to fulfill reading assignments and essay assignments between meeting times. Student work is evaluated using measurements of "does not/meets/exceeds expectations." All exams and related evaluations are filed in the Bishop's office and are available to the Bishop, Commission of Ministry, and Standing Committee.

In March of 2024, Bexley Seabury Seminary was also approved as an education option for Vocational Deacons in formation that uses a smiliar approach to WCM. To learn more about the Deacons Formation Collaborative at Bexley Seabury Seminary, visit their website HERE.

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Meet Our Deacons

The Diocese of Hawai'i currently has six active Vocational Deacons, including our Archdeacon, Steve Costa. Click on their names to read more about their ministry.

The Venerable Steve Costa

The Venerable Steven Costa is familiar to many in the Diocese. As the Archdeacon, he assists at official services where the Bishop is the Celebrant, including those held on the neighbor islands. On any given Sunday, he can be seen at a service somewhere in the Diocese. As a deacon, he has dedicated his life to serving others in the community, and fills his time volunteering in countless outreach efforts. READ MORE

Read about Steve's incredible journey to becoming a deacon that appeared in the Hawaiian Church Chronicle in November 2020 HERE.

The Rev. Deacon Lani Bowman

When does one's call to serve as a Deacon begin? Was it playing under the pews for years at St. Augustine's in Kohala? Was it in high school during the Vietnam War? Was it in being a foster parent, raising ten amazing “kids,” but also knowing no family should be torn apart? Was it the Cursillo movement where I experienced true Agape love? Was it seeing the stigmatization and dogma of what being a “Christian” is? Perhaps all of these helped start me on my path.

Click HERE to read Lani's full bio.

The Rev. Deacon Alberta Buller

Since arriving in Hawai'i in June 2022, I have served the people of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles in Hilo. Part of that service includes supervising and training our Eucharistic Visitors (per the Canons of the Episcopal Church: Canons III.4.6 and III.4.7 ).

I am also a member of the Commission on Ministry here in the Diocese.

Click HERE to read Alberta's full bio.

The Rev. Deacon Lisa Pang

I have been a Deacon for St. John's Episcopal Church in Guam for about fifteen years. I began my ordained ministry by providing a food closet for needy people. This evolved into a monthly meal for the houseless. Now, it has become a food collection for the houseless, which we package and distribute.

Otherwise, my ministry consists of whatever I'm asked to do (within reason). For example, I have led Bible studies, Lenten and Advent studies, and confirmation preparation over the years.

I assist in all services at St. John's. Many come and go at John's, and I am now considered an older member. As a clergy member, I try to offer families and anyone comfort and familiarity consistently. I hope to be that light at St. John's for many years.

The Rev. Deacon Mary Margaret Smith

I have always felt called to service. As Christians, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. It took me ten years to accept God’s call to the diaconate. To acknowledge this was what God wanted from me, especially in later life. But once I received the call, everything fell into place. I studied for four years under WCM, the local formation program, and was ordained as a Deacon in October 2023.

I am now assigned to St Michael and All Angels in Lihue, Kaua‘i. As the only deacon on the island, I also serve occasionally at the other Episcopal Churches so the congregations can learn about the ministry of a deacon.

Click HERE to read Mary Margaret's full bio.

The Rev. Deacon Bob Steele

I serve regularly in Sunday services at The Church of Holy Nativity. I recently chaired our 75th Anniversary Celebration of Holy Nativity Committee, served on the school board of Holy Nativity School, and am a member of the Kupuna Watch Committee, which serves as a bridge between the Church and School. I am also a member of the Racial Reconciliation Task Force in the Diocese and a member of the board of the Samaritan Counseling Center, Hawai'i.

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FAQs About Deacons

(Click on the question to reveal the response.)

If a parishioner wants to know more about becoming a deacon, where should I refer him or her?

Start by checking these Diocesan web pages: Ordination Process, and Discernment for Ministry.

My parish cannot afford an assistant priest but I need help. May I request a deacon?

The deacon's primary ministry is to inspire and engage others in participation in God's mission of restoration and reconciliation. This primarily involves inspiring others to ministry in the world, which often involves serving the poor, sick, weak, and lonely, usually outside the church. The deacon's role in an assigned parish is to encourage and model the ministry of service that every Christian promised at baptism, and to represent the service of all Christians through the deacon's liturgical role. Expectations for a deacon are quite different from the expectations for a priest or even for a transitional deacon engaged in parish ministry.

What is a "transitional deacon"?

In the Episcopal Church, anyone who will be ordained a priest must first be ordained a deacon, for at least six months. Because such people are "in transition" to becoming a priest, they are called transitional deacons. Deacons who do not feel called to the ministry of a priest are sometimes called "vocational deacons" in order to distinguish between the two.

How do I request to have a deacon assigned to my congregation?

A request may be made in writing to Bishop Fitzpatrick’s office. A conversation will take place to explore the congregation's expectations vs. the expectations of deacons in this diocese. The bishop's assignment of deacons depends on geography, special circumstances, and demand. Currently, the demand is greater than the supply.

Who supervises deacons?

Deacons are always directly accountable to the Bishop. Therefore, in the Diocese of Hawai‘i, deacons are accountable to Bishop Fitzpatrick. In a congregation, the deacon is supervised by the rector or the clergy-in-charge. Expectations for the deacon's assignment are detailed in an agreement signed by the deacon, priest, and bishop. Priest and deacon meet at least monthly for supervision. Deacons report to Bishop Fitzpatrick in writing at least twice a year.

Do deacons preach?

Strictly speaking, preaching has not historically been part of a deacon's ministry. Deacons are permitted occasionally in worship services to comment on subjects related to servant ministry and the needs of the world, in place of the regular sermon. Some deacons are more comfortable than others with this role. In theory, some deacons may have a gift and calling to preach.

May a deacon lead worship when the priest is away?

Deacons lead prayer offices, such as Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, as lay persons also may do. "Deacon's masses," where the deacon serves communion from the reserved sacrament in the absence of a priest (BCP p. 408), are not permitted in this diocese. Deacons do not preside at weddings or baptisms, but may preside at burials.

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