The Diaconate: Practising a basin theology

It was in November 1995 when I was first ordained as a Deacon and presented with the symbols of diaconal ministry: a jug and a basin. To this day they have a special place within my home. As our Diocese seeks to revitalise and renew the holy order of the vocational deacon I am reminded again of the story once told of a parishioner, who said to the minister, “you preachers talk a lot about ‘do unto others’, but when you get right down to it, it comes down to basin theology.”

The minister asked, “basin theology? What’s that?” The parishioner replied, “remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before His death, called for a basin and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples.”

Within the time frame of a mere twenty-four hours, the stories of two individual people are portrayed within the gospel narrative. The immense gap between the two men and their way of living, doing and being, is forever drawn together through the common denominator of two basins filled with water.

In the Anglican Church, becoming a deacon can be a first step on a pathway to being a pastoral minister. There is a choice. Deacons can “out-reach” as a vocation. Like Jesus, vocational deacons speak their particular Christian message as a voice in the community to call out inequalities, provide guidance, and be a voice of hope for others.

The uniting role of the vocational deacon is connecting the church with the world, and the world with the church. They are charged, on behalf of the church, to take the basin of Christ out and beyond the sanctuary, into uncharted territory. To be both risk takers and restorers by actively engaging at the points of pain and conflict within our communities.

A vocational deacon is there to encourage all followers of Christ to be part of this reaching out into the world beyond our sacramental doors. To both practically respond to humanity’s need, as well as calling into question unjust structures which are harming so many people and our planet right now.

The lasting legacy left to us from Christ himself invites us all to be active doers of the word, taking up his basin of loving and courageous selflessness, following the example He set.

By Reverend Chris Frazer