The argument is that a revised understanding and practice of diakonia can speak apologetically into the turn to philosophy, the social world and responsiveness to persons within healthcare policy and practice. This turn opens up contested questions about what constitute goodness in healthcare, with practical ramifications for the support of health-related social agency such as that pursued by churches and ecclesial organisations. To address these questions, John N Collins’ work is critically developed by interweaving the political and ecclesial senses of diakonia. The social authority of diakonia proceeds from its commissioned and representative nature and its concomitant eschatological purposiveness and missional logic. Thus conceived the duality of diakonia yields benefits to the conception, preservation and practice of health-related social agency and of ‘service’ more generally. The outcome is an Anglican political theology which can avoid some of the difficulties of German Protestants’ concept and practice of Diakonie¬ and address key issues raised in the others papers in this special section.
