Diaconia as an ecclesial place in civil society – reflections from the German context

“Diaconia is Church and therefore more than public social work managed by the church. It is grounded in the service of the church community and embodies living faith, present love and effective hope”.³ This is the programmatic statement of Diakonie Deutschland representing many similar faith-based associations around the world which do social work for and with needy or marginalised people. With the term ‘diaconia’ they trace their activities back to the social-charitable ministry of the early church to widows, orphans, the sick etc. as a token of God’s love and a way of fulfilling the commandment to love one’s neighbour.⁴