A: In the Episcopal Church, priests are pastors who serve as the primary leaders of a congregation, preaching, presiding over sacraments, and guiding the community. Deacons are ministers of service, called to "bridge" the church and the world by serving those in need, interpreting the needs of the world to the church, and assisting priests and bishops in worship and sacraments.
Here are the definitions from An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church:
Deacons are members of one of three distinct orders of ordained ministry (with bishops and presbyters/priests). In the Episcopal Church a deacon exercises “a special ministry
of servanthood” directly under the deacon's bishop, serving all people and especially those in need (BCP, p. 543). This definition reflects the practice of the early church, in which deacons were ordained “not to the priesthood but to the servanthood [diakonia, “ministry”] of the bishop” (Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition). In the ancient Greek-speaking world the term diakonos meant an intermediary who acted or spoke for a superior. Christian deacons were agents of the bishop, often with oversight of charity. Since ancient times the liturgical functions of deacons have suggested the activity of angels. As they proclaim the gospel, lead intercessions, wait at the eucharistic table, and direct the order of the assembly, deacons act as sacred messengers, agents, and attendants. The revival of the order of deacons in the twentieth century has emphasized social care and service. Many bishops in the Episcopal Church expect their deacons to promote care of the needy outside the church. In addition to those ordained deacon as a permanent vocation, there are also “transitional deacons” who are ordained deacon as a preliminary step toward ordination as a priest. This practice is required by the canons of the Episcopal Church, but its theology and usefulness has been questioned by those who favor direct ordination to the order for which one is chosen.
Derived from the Greek presbyteros, “elder," the term "Priest" is used as a synonym for presbyter. Presbyters constituted a collegiate ruling body of institutions in Judaism. The Catechism notes that “the ministry of a priest or presbyter” is “to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to proclaim the gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God” (BCP, p. 856). The term “priest” is more frequently used than “presbyter” in the Episcopal Church. The ordination service for this order of ministry is titled “The Ordination of a Priest” (BCP, p. 525). After the Reformation, the Anglican Church used the term “priest” for the second order of ministry. Some Protestant churches began to use the term “presbyter” for the minister who preaches the Word and administers the sacrements. The 1979 BCP uses both terms. Some members of the Episcopal Church have favored the use of “presbyter” because of historic association of the term “priest” with a narrow eucharistic piety or with OT sacrifice.
Here are some of the key distinctions:
Priests:
Pastoral Leadership: Priests act as pastors to the people, leading the congregation in the
faith. They are responsible for pastoral care.
Sacramental Ministry: They are authorized to celebrate the sacraments, including the
Eucharist.
Gospel Proclamation: Priests proclaim the Gospel and administer sacraments in the
name of God.
Church Leadership: They are the senior ordained ministers in a parish, serving under
the bishop.
Sacramental Rites: Priests hear confessions, anoint the sick, officiate marriages, and
officiate funerals.
Works "in persona Christi capitis" (in the person of Christ the Head) and leads the
community in worship and sacraments.
Deacons:
Service and Ministry: Deacons are called to a life of service, focusing on those in need,
such as the poor, weak, sick, and lonely.
Bridge Between Church and World: They interpret the needs, concerns, and hopes of
the world to the church and are often seen as being at the "intersection of world and
church".
Assisting in Worship: They assist bishops and priests in public worship and the
administration of sacraments.
Proclaiming the Gospel: Deacons have a specific role in proclaiming the Gospel, often
reading it during a service.
Serving the Marginalized: Their ministry often involves working with marginalized communities, and they are seen as a "bridge leader" for these groups.
Can baptize and be a witness to marriage, but cannot perform other sacraments.
Assists the bishop or priest at the altar, sets the table, proclaims the gospel, and can give
the dismissal.
What is the difference between a transistional deacon and a vocational deacon?
Transitional Deacon: Candidates for the priesthood are ordained first into the diaconate as Transitional Deacons, for a period of at least six months before final ordination into the priesthood. Reverend Ashley was ordained a deacon in April of 2023 and as a priest in November 2023. Our Seminarian, Anne-Marie, will be ordained a transitional deacon at the end of her formation process and prior to her being ordained a priest.
Vocational Deacon: A deacon whose final vocation and calling is to permanently serve the church and the world as a deacon. Both Reverend Deacon Pam and Reverend Deacon Sandra are vocational deacons.
Priests are ordained as deacons first because the role of a deacon is seen as a fundamental step of service that prepares them for the priesthood and enables them to work alongside deacons in the future. This "transitional deacon" period, (remember - at least six months), allows the candidate to embody the servant-like qualities of the diaconate before moving on to the priestly ministry of presiding over the sacraments.