Paul Simmons, a Deacon of the Broken Bay Diocese, was appointed as National Coordinator of Deacons by the ACBC in 2007, and has just been re-appointed for a further three year term.

This is a part-time position and is accountable, through the Director of Clergy Life and Ministry to the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry, and
in turn is accountable to the Bishops Conference, for the coordination and promotion of the permanent diaconate in Australia.

This includes implementing policies decided by the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry to support the formation and ongoing education of deacons in Australia, and to raise the profile of the permanent diaconate by communicating a national vision, yet at the same time, focusing on the individual needs of each diocese, particularly in relation to the formation of aspirants and candidates for the diaconate.

Paul is a permanent deacon who has been married to his wife Susan for 40 years and they have two children and six grandchildren. He said however, “whilst the majority of permanent
deacons are married, a number are not and so the vocation and ministry of deacons should not be seen as a married diaconate, but rather a permanent diaconate”.

For further information on the Permanent Diaconate in Australia visit: www.clergy.org.au/deacons