Many Servants: An Introduction to Deacons

Many Servants help me understand the history and role of the Deacon Order that I am about to join.

Many Servants provides a great overview of the role and place of deacons in the church today, focusing on the Episcopal Church. Plater leads the reader through a history of the deaconate, the ordination process for deacons, the meaning of deaconate vows at ordination, and an overview of the many and diverse ministries in which deacons are involved. This is a very well written and informative book.

Mr. Platter offers a very good account of the Diaconate. I especially enjoyed allowing Deacons to tell their own stories.

Mr. Plater brilliantly reveals the true mission of the Church and of this specialized order of ministry known as the diaconate. Through explorations of the evolving meaning and application of "diakonia" in the Church throughout history, and the essential considerations in recruitment/selection, formation, deployment, and supervision/support of modern deacons he illuminates and untangles the misconceptions or misunderstandings surrounding the "servant ministry" of the diaconate and its relationship to the laity, the priesthood and to bishops. Upon completing the book in its entirety and stepping back one can see that the story of each deacon, told throughout the book, serves as a point of colored light creating an impressionistic representation of the body of deacons serving in the world today, yesterday, and in years to come. Mr. Plater's explanation of the challenges facing the Church to effectively restore and utilize the Order of Deacons amidst the pressures of clericalism and a world of self-interest should serve to motivate those who are currently ordained to the diaconate and those who may be called to this ministry of service in the future. This book has been a valuable tool for me in my own discernment process and I have recommended it to others who are also in the process of discernment.

I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in the Deaconate. You will gain a wonderful historical perspective on the Order and learn of the many ministries that Deacons are currently engaged in.