DIAKONIA

HELPING THE PEOPLE

Note: The following article by Teresa Joan White is the entry on diakonia from
the revised edition of the Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement
published jointly by the World Council of Churches and the Wm. Eerdmans
in 2002.

The term "diakonia" (from the Greek verb diakonein, to serve; cf. diakonos,
male or female servant) refers to service as a permanent activity of the church
throughout its history. It is also the name of an international organization
networking among those involved in the service ministries of the churches. A
separate entry is devoted to the diaconate as an order of ministry in the churches.

The Diakonia of the church

Diakonia, or the "responsible service of the gospel by deeds and by

words performed by Christians in response to the needs of people", is rooted
in and modelled on Christ’s service and teachings.

The Old Testament law provided a variety of ways to alleviate the

sufferings of the poor, and the prophets often spoke as advocates of the
widows and orphans. The early Jerusalem church practised a form of
communism: those with possessions sold them to benefit those who were in
need. Its own subsequent needs were met in part by diakonia from gentile
churches (Acts 11:27ff.; 2 Cor. 8).

Diakonia Forms in the Church and Their Development i

In general, the diakonia models / forms in the church are divided into three
types, including:

1. Charitative Diakonia – Charitative diakonia contains the meaning of acts of

encouragement of mercy which is generous or voluntary. Motivation for
charitable actions is basically a purely humanitarian impulse. Church ministry
is mainly on charitable or charitable acts based on Matt. 25: 31-36. This
model is a model that is carried out directly, for example, a hungry person is
given food (bread). This diakonia is supported and practiced by church
institutions because it is considered to provide immediate benefits that can
be seen immediately and there is no risk because it is supported by the
authorities. This type of diakonia is a product and development of
industrialization in Europe and North America in the 19th century.
2. Reformative or Developmental Diakonia – This diakonia model emphasizes
development more. The approach taken is Community Development, such as
the construction of a health center, counseling, social assistance, savings
and loan joint ventures, and others. The analogy of this model is when a
hungry person gives food (bread, fish) and a hoe or hook so that he doesn't
just ask but also works for himself. In this type, the deaconess is no longer
just providing food and clothing assistance, but has begun to pay attention to
 organizing skills courses, providing or providing capital loans to community
groups.
3. Transformative Diakonia - In this perspective, deacons are understood as
the Church's action to serve mankind in a multi-dimensional way (spirit, soul
and body) and also multi-sectoral (economy, politics, culture, law and
religion). Diakonia are no longer merely acts of charity (although necessary
and still carried out) by the Church, but transformative acts that bring
people with the system and structure of their lives that indicate the coming
of the Kingdom of God. This diakonia does not only mean to feed, drink,
clothe and others, but how together the community can fight for the rights
of life. [29] The transformative or liberating diakonia may be depicted with
an open eye image. That is, this deacon is a ministry of opening blind eyes
and enabling one's feet to be strong in walking on their own.
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