Purpose

Deacon School is designed for the preparation of those who have gone through the diocesan discernment process and been approved as postulants to the diaconate (towards ordination as vocational deacons). Tuition is $1,000 each year with an expectation of the sponsoring congregation covering part or all of this tuition.

The role of the permanent deacon is to be a servant minister, symbolizing the servanthood of Christ. Each deacon, therefore, is involved in one or more community ministries. The deacon is to bring the needs of the world to the church, and necessarily therefore is out in the world for most of his/her ministry.

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Preparation for Ministry

Spiritual and community formation are vital parts of Deacon School which has a dean, faculty and curriculum. Over the course of two years, students are required to complete:

• Four courses in each of four semesters (January-May, September-December)
  
  • Christian Spirituality I,II,III
    
  • Homiletics
    
  • The Diaconate I-IV
    
  • New Testament I,II
    
  • Old Testament I, II
    
  • Theology I, II
    
  • Church History I, II.
• an individual retreat every year
• field education: placement for a three month period (summer) to do ministry in a different congregation; supervised
• Summer intensive outreach/pastoral care community experience, supervised

Deacons have a particular role as servant ministers and the curriculum reflects this perspective. Students take part in assisting at Eucharistic services and leading and assisting at the Evening or Morning Prayer.

2020 Courses

Taught over nine Saturdays at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac and individually:

• Church History taught by the Very Rev. C. Patrick Perkins, Dean, St. Paul's Cathedral, Fond du Lac
• Old Testament taught by the Rev. Dr. Tom McAlpine, Retired
• Homiletics taught by the Rev. Dr. Jim Trainor, Retired
• Diaconate taught by the Ven. Michele Whitford, Vicar, St. Paul Plymouth and Associate, Grace, Sheboygan
• Christian Spirituality taught by the Rev. Dr. Mary Tainor, Retired.

​The Rev. Dr. Mary Trainor serves as Dean of the Deacons School.

Audit Courses

2020 courses start January 11 and are taught the 2nd Saturday of January-May (but April 18 because of Easter) and September-December). Auditors are requested to attend all classes and do  reading, but have no prerequisites and do not need to do homework. Auditors are requested to provide a donation to the Diocese of Fond du Lac in lieu of tuition.

Interested in exploring signing up as an auditor? Contact dean.stpaulsfdl@gmail.com for Church History or t.mcalpine.sr@gmail.com for Old Testament.

AUDITOR Donation