Transitional deacon
Encyclopedia
In the Roman
Catholic Church, a transitional deacon is a celibate
man who has been ordained
a deacon
and who intends to become a priest. Transitional deacons are usually ordained to the diaconate after they complete their third year at the theological seminary
. For several centuries, all Roman Catholic deacons were in this transitional stage between layman and priest. The role of permanent deacon, usually a married man who is unable to remarry after ordination if his wife predeceases him, was revived after the Second Vatican Council
in the 1960s.
In the Old Catholic churches, whose formal existence stems from the First Vatican Council
in 1870, a transitional deacon may generally be celibate, engaged in a relationship or married. In many groups within the Old Catholic church, men and women alike can be ordained into the diaconate, as well as both homosexual and heterosexual seminarians. Liturgically, the role of deacon is the same as the Roman Church, with some differences possibly being found in each group.
In the Anglican tradition (such as the Episcopal Church in the United States of America), a transitional deacon is similar except that, in keeping with the differences in the requirements for priesthood from the Roman Catholic church, they may be a man or woman and may be married. Another historical difference is that an Anglican transitional deacon had to first be a graduate of an approved seminary
, theological college or distance education program. Today, however, many dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America are changing that and allowing ordination
of transitional deacons during the final year of seminary. The Episcopal Church also ordains individuals as vocational deacons (see Anglican ministry
).
Roman Catholic (term)
The term Roman Catholic appeared in the English language at the beginning of the 17th century, to differentiate specific groups of Christians in communion with the Pope from others; comparable terms in other languages already existed...
Catholic Church, a transitional deacon is a celibate
Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
man who has been ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and who intends to become a priest. Transitional deacons are usually ordained to the diaconate after they complete their third year at the theological seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. For several centuries, all Roman Catholic deacons were in this transitional stage between layman and priest. The role of permanent deacon, usually a married man who is unable to remarry after ordination if his wife predeceases him, was revived after the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
in the 1960s.
In the Old Catholic churches, whose formal existence stems from the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
in 1870, a transitional deacon may generally be celibate, engaged in a relationship or married. In many groups within the Old Catholic church, men and women alike can be ordained into the diaconate, as well as both homosexual and heterosexual seminarians. Liturgically, the role of deacon is the same as the Roman Church, with some differences possibly being found in each group.
In the Anglican tradition (such as the Episcopal Church in the United States of America), a transitional deacon is similar except that, in keeping with the differences in the requirements for priesthood from the Roman Catholic church, they may be a man or woman and may be married. Another historical difference is that an Anglican transitional deacon had to first be a graduate of an approved seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, theological college or distance education program. Today, however, many dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America are changing that and allowing ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
of transitional deacons during the final year of seminary. The Episcopal Church also ordains individuals as vocational deacons (see Anglican ministry
Anglican ministry
The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. "Ministry" commonly refers to the office of ordained clergy: the threefold order of bishops, priests and deacons. More accurately, Anglican ministry includes many laypeople who devote themselves...
).