Deacon vs. Overseer — What's the Difference?

A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Scandinavian Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Church, including the Free Church of England, view the diaconate as part of the clerical state.

One who watches over and directs the work of others, especially laborers.

A cleric ranking just below a priest in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches.

A supervisor or superintendent.

A lay assistant to a Protestant minister.

One who oversees or supervises.

Used as a title prefixed to the surname of such a person

(historical) The manager of a plantation of slaves.

(Church history) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).

(historical) An officer responsible for the care of the poor, making out lists of voters and those who had not paid taxes, etc.

(Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.

(obsolete) A critic.

(Protestantism) Free Churches: A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.

One who oversees; a superintendent; a supervisor; as, an overseer of a mill; specifically, one or certain public officers; as, an overseer of the poor; an overseer of highways.

(Protestantism) Anglicanism: An ordained clergyman usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.

A person who directs and manages an organization

(Protestantism) Methodism: A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.

(freemasonry) A junior lodge officer.

(Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.

A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).

(Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company.

For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.

To kill a calf shortly after birth.

To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.

To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.

An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders, and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor, and has duties as in the Presbyterian church.

The chairman of an incorporated company.

To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it, - usually with off.

With humorous reference to hypocritical posing: To pack (fruit or vegetables) with the finest specimens on top; to alter slyly the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.

A Protestant layman who assists the minister

A cleric ranking just below a priest in Christian churches; one of the Holy Orders