Abstract

The author casts a retrospective glance at the stations of the fifty years old discussion about the mandate of ecumenical deacony. Today two basic conceptions are marked off: the conception of a prophetic deacony, informed by the leading notion of »justice« on one side, and the conception of a caritative deacony, informed by the leading notion of »reconciliation« on the other. The author discusses the tention between these concepts in their theological foundations and takes a look at the significance of these concepts in situations characterized by »complex emergencies«. Therefore he explores criterions and standards, on which the mandate of ecumenical deacony could be orientated for the future