This proposal was made by the Deacon Review Group

That the Assembly

1. Receive the report.

2. Commend the report to Assembly agencies, synods, presbyteries and congregations for study and implementation.

3. Request that Synods employ effective processes for the implementation of placements for deacons (cf. §3.1.4), giving consideration to

• the continuity of placements;
• securing adequate, ongoing finance for diaconal placements;
• the provision of deacon placements in clusters of congregations, in presbyteries, or in team ministries with ministers of the Word;
• encouraging and supporting deacons in finding placements based in community organisations;
• ensuring that deacons placed in Synod chaplaincy or non-congregational positions are connected into a congregation which will provide loving support in these outreach activities.

4.1 Request the MEC to consult with Synod Secretaries and Principals of Theological Colleges to agree on:

• the establishment of a position of national coordinator of deacon education;
• a position description with defined reporting and accountability responsibilities for the position;
• funding arrangements.

4.2 Note the requests from the Task Group that the position be under the oversight of the MEC and that an occupant be in place not later than the commencement of the 2005 academic year.

5 Request that presbyteries and theological colleges ensure that candidates are fully informed of all specified ministries during the four phases of formation, and that people in the Period of Discernment have full access to such information.

6 Promote an understanding of the ministry of deacon throughout each area of the Uniting Church, by strategies such as

• promoting the existing Diakonia UCA brochures and ensuring that these brochures are translated into different languages.
• developing new materials on the diaconal ministry of the whole church, in order to help congregations discover the potential for diaconal ministry.

7 Promote an annual diaconal ministry Sunday, to increase awareness of the diakonia of the whole people of God. (Cf. Recommendation 2 of the 1991 Report: ‘that congregations be encouraged to develop, encourage and recognise new forms of ministry through which members can use their gifts in mission, recognising ‘that every member of the church is engaged to confess the faith of Christ crucified and to be his faithful servant’ (Basis of Union #13)’.)