The Episcopal Church

The Diocese of Georgia

Deacon School for Ministry

Diaconate Scenarios (June 2006)

1. A friend approaches you and requests that you marry his daughter. Both the daughter and fiancé have been baptized.  Neither he nor his daughters are Episcopalians. All are unchurched. The wedding will not be in a church. Can you marry them?

2. You receive a telephone call from the rector early Sunday morning stating that he is ill and requests that you take the service. What can you do and not do?

3. You are communicating bread from the paten and a parent requests a blessing for their child. How do you pastorally handle this situation?

4. A member of the congregation approaches the altar rail to receive communion. You know that she isn’t baptized. What do you do?

5. The Rector makes a charge that you violated the Canons of the Diocese. Are you headed to the Ecclesiastical Court? Why or why not?

6. A friend asks that you baptize his son. Can you? What modification, if any, would be required in the Baptismal liturgy?

7. Your Rector is absent and a member of the congregation approaches you wishing to confess a sin that has been troubling his conscience. What do you do? Can you give absolution? Why or why not?

8. You attend the Convention of the Diocese as a member of the Clergy. As a deacon, can you vote? You have established canonical residence in this Diocese two months prior to the Convention? Does this make any difference? Why or why not?

9. The Senior Warden calls you and tells you that the Rector is ill and asks if you were chair tonight’s Vestry meeting. Do you? Why or why not?

10. You have a church meeting after work and will not have time to stop by the house to change into your clericals. Do you wear your clericals to work? Why or why not?