May 21, 2008
By Vicki Brown

United Methodist bishops will be allowed to grant authority to deacons to administer Holy Communion and baptism in certain circumstances under legislation approved this spring by General Conference.

The authority can be granted to a deacon within his or her primary appointment in the absence of an elder. The change takes effect in January 2009.

"This legislation is an effort to extend the mission and ministry of the church in extraordinary circumstances when an elder is not present," said the Rev. Mary Ann Moman, a staff executive with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

"The legislation is a reminder of the importance of the sacramental ministry in the church and the world. It is fair to ask why elders aren't present in the places where the sacraments are needed."

The board presented the petition through its Study of Ministry Commission, which also asked to continue a denomination-wide conversation regarding ordination and sacramental authority for four more years. Delegates voted to create a new commission to continue that conversation and also approved the legislation allowing sacramental authority.

The legislation was approved by 67 percent of the delegates voting. General Conference, the top legislative body of The United Methodist Church, met April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The petition amends the Book of Discipline to add: "For the sake of extending the mission and ministry of the church, a pastor-in-charge or district superintendent may request that the bishop grant local sacramental authority to the deacon to administer the sacraments in the absence of an elder, within a deacon's primary appointment." (Paragraph 328.)

Moman said agency staff will work with the Council of Bishops as the church's dpiscopal leaders address the issues of implementation, including exactly what situations would apply.

The board plans to distribute information to deacons, chairs of orders, and annual conference Boards of Ordained Ministry about the change.

The Rev. Sharon Rubey, director of candidacy and conference relations, said the legislation gives the authority to "extend the means of grace for the missional needs of the church, and not a means of convenience."

The Rev. Anita Wood, the board's director of professional ministry development, said the heart of the ministry of the deacon remains the call to connect the needs of the world to the ministries of the church.

"Deacons are called to the responsibility to serve in specialized ways that bridge ministries of the congregation with the needs of the community. Sometimes that may call for sacramental authority, and many times, not," Wood said.

Wood said it will be important to articulate the connection between the ministries of the deacon and offering the means of grace through sacramental authority and will require much discussion and discernment. "Informal conversations have already begun," she said.

United Methodist News Service
Vicki Brown is associate editor and writer, Office of Interpretation, United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.