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    Diakonia and community development

    TXT

    Diakonia
    UCA

    Occasional Paper
    Vol. 5 Nov'97




    Diakonia
    and
    Community
    Development

    by

    Pe[...]
    DIAKONIA OCCASIONAL PAPER NUMBER 5- 1997.


    For this, the[...]me it
    has been held on the topic of "Enabling the diakonia of the
    local church community.“ He is also auth[...]parish community uork in
    Australia. This paper on Diakonia and Community Development
    was written as p[...]
    DIAKONIA
    AND
    COMMUNI[...]
    [...]e language of the Christian church, the notion of diakonia has experienced
    a revival in the wake of an incre[...]this is seen as an
    approach to ministry based on diakonia rather than domination.

    Within the language of t[...]and social transformation.

    The juxtaposition of diakonia as servant leadership within the Christian faith[...]ing of leadership as domination by an emphasis on diakonia. This will
    include an assessment of Mark 10:35-45[...]the footwashing in John 13:1-20 as a paradigm for diakonia as a
    process of incorporation into Christ[...]
    [...]based on domination by the radical alternative of diakonia,
    which does not eliminate the exercise of[...]
    [...]be great must embrace their greatness through
    diakonia.

    L
    L[...]
    [...]red
    provide a consistent profile of the nature of diakonia. On the basis of Mark 10:35-45
    and its par[...]
    [...]us as the one who wins victory over death through diakonia as a
    sacramental sign. Although the footwashing i[...]ly to commend the outward
    and visible activity of diakonia to the disciples. There is also a diakonia within the
    inner grace of sacrifice, and in parti[...]le fellowship and the nature of the commission to diakonia which the disciples
    receive. This is also[...]
    [...]n also begin to observe the deeper
    implication of diakonia as a sharing in the victory of Jesus on the cross, through
    incorporation into Christ. Participation in diakonia becomes a visible symbol of this.

    For Schneiders[...]tion draws out the eschatological significance of
    diakonia, and is linked to the notion of the footwa[...]
    [...]8b where the server stands with the one served.
    Diakonia is a matter of mutual necessity based on love whi[...]replenishment. This involves the
    integration of diakonia of both table and word;

    • The table as the pla[...]ission to follow the example of service in vs 15. Diakonia does not
    merely meet the needs of peopie throug[...]t of God so
    those served can become involved in diakonia too. Those who are truly served
    are empo[...]
    [...]ws “were overlooked or
    passed over in the daily diakonia or ministry could indicate either that they were[...]e, she contends that “in early Christian usage, diakonia refers to
    Eucharistic table service in the house[...], the two diaconal
    functions were part of the one diakonia, and it was therefore highly likely that w[...]
    [...]g given to the seven is the authority to exercise diakonia, yet
    the description of the actual work of Stephe[...]about
    missing out on the opportunity to exercise diakonia, rather than because they are
    not receiving of it[...]ntion. While women are not
    portrayed as agents of diakonia in Acts 6, elsewhere in the new testament, they a[...]tablished in Acts 6 is one based on domination or diakonia. In other words, does
    Acts 6 pass the test of ‘[...]ch they were called, and yet their calling was to diakoniadiakonia, and not diakonia itself. This possibility recalls the
    posit[...]
    [...]the appointment of seven men is the antithesis
    of diakonia, an example of the exercise of leadership as domi[...]m is implied in the
    Gospel concept of ministry as diakonia or service. Diakonia is kenotic or self­
    emptying of power as dominat[...]ommunity together to consider
    the matter (vs2). Diakonia comes into being when a need is recognised for wh[...]or
    disempower. A disempowering response is not diakonia, though it may look like it.

    • Deliberation ab[...]ive priority to prayer and preaching (vs4).
    The diakonia of the Christian church stands in relationship to[...]illed Hellenist men to fulfil the role (vs5). The diakonia of
    the church necessitates a calling out[...]
    [...]rth by prayer and the laying
    on of hands (vs6). Diakonia is recognised as an authorised function within th[...]among the Jewish hierarchy (vs7). The outcome of diakonia is related to
    the growth of the church, both in[...]se served rather than simply provides a service.

    Diakonia is always pushing at the edges of human ex[...]
    Conclusion

    This exploration of new testament images of diakonia has considered the paradox of
    servant leadership[...]titude to leadership based not on domination, but diakonia. In this
    power paradox, great leaders are such no[...]ole body of the faithful of the universal call to diakonia. In
    such leadership structures within the church,[...]ut such freedom of choice, what
    eventuates is not diakonia, but slavery (48). This realisation has a[...]
    of Christ. Hence, diakonia is not simply a means of imitating Christ’s exa[...]on this as it pertains to the integration of the diakonia of word
    and table, of believing and doing, of the[...]concern.
    With regard to the relationship between diakonia and Eucharist , the sacramental
    nature of diakonia as already suggested in John 13 is relevant since[...]blems of servant leadership are vague,
    beyond the diakonia implied in Eucharist itself. Yet the connection between
    Eucharist and diakonia is not often made. Likewise, on rare occasions wh[...]s action does not
    necessarily become a symbol for diakonia beyond the fellowship of the faithful, but
    primar[...]s of power rather than
    empower people to exercise diakonia in such a way that creates servant leaders[...]

    MD

    Diakonia and community development
    Diakonia