The Deacon

What is the status of a deacon? I refer to deacons in the catholic churches, such Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic.

In those churches deacons are clergy, the lower - if you will - of the three ordained orders. The other two are presbyters (priests) and overseers (bishops).

What is the status of a deacon relative to the bishop? Traditionally, deacons are attached to their diocesan bishop and not to the presbyter/rector at a local parish where the deacon might be assigned. Yes, some level of oversight is assigned to the rector over clergy on staff. But in the end, deacons belong to their bishop.

As such, what happens when a bishop abdicates his responsibilities to his deacons? Bishops and presbyters are, in a sense, collegial. Bishops and deacons do not traditionally have a collegial relationship. Deacons are subordinate to bishops. Deacons are not mini-priests, either.

Church order is vitally important to the proper proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is the bishop who must maintain all those things, including each part of Holy Orders, within the overall governance of his diocese.