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 denominations, such as the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheranism, Methodism, Anglicanism, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, view the diaconate as an order of ministry.
Permanent deacons are deacons who are not transitioning into the priesthood, in contrast to those continuing their formation, who were then called transitional deacons.