The Emerging Diaconate Servant Leaders in a Servant Church

THE EMERGING DIACONATE looks at the proliferation of the permanent deacons in the Latin Church especially since the Order was "renewed" to a permanent ecclesiastical rank in 1967. Deacon Ditewig focuses on the traditional view of the deacon as a kenotic "servant," but balances this self-emptying view of the deacon with theosis, the Eastern Catholic belief based on St. Paul's phrase that deacons "fill-up" in Christ just as they pour themselves out in service of His Church. Written in a popular, narrative style, THE EMERGING DIACONATE eschews the 40-year-old model for the Deacon of "Family first; Job second; Diaconate Third" and presents new paradigms for this burgeoning ministry. Highlights:  Blends history, theology, and insights from the social sciences to create a vision for the renewed contemporary diaconate  Provides unique research from the Second Vatican Council which offers a surprising look at how the Council envisioned the diaconate  Offers concrete suggestions for the future development of the diaconate, based on vision of the early pioneers of the renewed diaconate and in light of current ecclesial realities †