After meeting for several years as part of other groups, diocesan directors of diaconate formation held their own conference for the first time. Meeting Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Dominican Conference Center in New Orleans, the meeting attracted 50 participants from 22 dioceses and included representatives from five seminaries.

The directors drafted a vision statement as a guide for the formation of deacons:

"A deacon is a baptized person called and empowered by God and the Christian community to be an icon illuminating Christ as a model of servanthood for all people. The role of the deacon in liturgy mirrors the role of the deacon in church and world.

"The personal gifts the church looks for in a deacon include spiritual maturity, compassion and flexibility. Under the authority of the bishop and church, the deacon serves as evangelist and catalyst with others.

"The deacon fulfills this calling through action and example as servant leader, intercessor, facilitator, visionary, nurturer, and interpreter among diverse people. The deacon is messenger and proclaimer of Christ's presence among us."

The directors also discussed the possible certification of formation programs and instructors. A committee will meet in May to draft guidelines for the diaconate.

Sponsored by the North American Association for the Diaconate, the conference was chaired by the Rev. Susanne Watson, deacon of the Diocese of Iowa. The formation directors plan to meet again June 18-19 in San Francisco, before the June 19-22 biennial conference of Anglican deacons in North America.