The Diaconal Association of the Church of Englan was formed in 1988 by bringing together the former Deaconess Committee and Anglican Accredited Lay Workers Federation. In 1994 DACE became a Registered Charity in England.
DACE exists to:
- promote diaconal ministries in the Church of England,
- support all nationally recognised diaconal ministers,
- maintain links with other associations of diaconal ministries in other denominations, and in particular "DIAKONIA Foundation: the World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities" and its relevant regional groupings, and
- consider the theological and practical implications of diaconal ministry within the total ministry of the Christian church.
Diaconal Ministry as understood in a world and ecumenical context is not confined merely to those who have been ordained Deacon in the church. Nor is it, in the wider context, confined only to those who have been set apart by the church. However, as a Professional Association DACE membership is restricted to those engaged in recognised "formal ministries" as follows.
FULL Membership of the Association is open to Anglican:
- Deacons,
- Deaconesses,
- Church Army Officers, not also ordained as Priest, and
- Accredited Lay Workers (admitted as such under Canon E7 and E8), resident and/or working in any Province of the Anglican Communion in Britain and Ireland .
ASSOCIATE Membership is open to:
- any member of the Church of England not qualifying for Full Membership;
- any member of another church in the Anglican Communion; and
- All other persons, lay or ordained, in any Christian Church which
- subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity,
- administers the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and
- is designated by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for the
Ecumenical Canons, and who subscribe to the purposes of the Association and are supportive of diaconal ministry.
A membership subscription is payable by all members and is reviewed annually (see Membership Application Form for current rate).
