This course explores the history, development, and current and evolving understanding of the diaconate, especially in the Anglican tradition, without neglecting the contributions of other Christian traditions. Beginning with the Ordination of a Deacon, and then continuing through changes in understanding of Diakonia, and changes in ministry context, the course challenges the participant to examine and reflect on their call to the diaconate and the contexts in which they will serve. The deacon’s roles in the church and the world require a deep understanding of the church, tradition, scripture and their own gifts for ministry.
Instructor: The Venerable Tim Spannaus is Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and retired deacon of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit. Tim has been a deacon since 1996, having been raised up and serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and then being received into the Episcopal Church in 2006 He previously served at St. John’s, Royal Oak (MI), where he initiated the Stephen Ministry program and Education for Ministry. He continues mentoring EfM, with participants from across the diocese.
He is retired from Wayne State University, where he was Sr. Lecturer and Program Coordinator of Learning Design and Technology until 2020. Tim served as convenor of the Vocational Development and Lifelong Learning Task Force of the Association for Episcopal Deacons in the development of Competencies for Deacons, 2017 (Rev. 2018). He earned his PhD from Wayne State. He is former president and a Fellow of the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi).
He also serves the diocese and the Episcopal Church in a variety of roles relating to formation and Safe Church, Safe Communities, including the Task Force to Develop Safe Church Policies and Training. He serves on and was formerly chair of the diocesan Commission on Ministry and participated in the revision of the process for ordination, including developing competencies and formation plans for those seeking ordination. He co-leads the cohort of locally formed seminarians in the Diocese of Michigan.
Tim is married to Collette Pariseau and has two sons and two grandsons. He enjoys baking, woodworking and road trips.