Ryökäs, Esko. “The ideal and the true nature of the deaconess. An example of a change in understanding of ‘diakonia’”
This article shows by analyzing the requirements of the deaconess in Finnish deacon textbooks how the concept of this caring ministry has changed in Finland during the past 120 years.
For Theodor Fliedner deaconesses were church-oriented individuals who knew how to work. He also stressed that the work required a sacrifice which was born out of true faith. This line appeared also in Deaconess Institute’s textbook in 1920’s (Snellman). When “diakonia” work started in Finland in the 1890s, the most important issues were the needs of the parishioners. The employee’s faith and character development are not paid attention during these early stages (Johansson, Aarnisalo, Sormunen). An emphasis on self-sacrifice appeared again in the textbooks in the middle of the 1900’s (Laajarinne, Kansanaho), but towards the end of the century this idea was abandoned. Professional expertise was then considered as the most important aspect.
This development can be seen as an effect of pietism; nevertheless, it drew its main theological input from the German exegetics of the time. In the 2000’s the pendulum has swung back and the focus is back on the idea of helping parishioners.
Diakonian tutkimus – Journal for Study of Diaconia, 2011 (2), 121-144.
http://dts.fi/files/2009/10/DT2_2011.pdf
