The role of deacons is a Biblical concept. The first deacons in the Bible, although not referred to as deacons at the time, were simply called “The Seven” and are listed in Acts 6:5. These seven men were chosen by the disciples because they were full of the Spirit and wisdom. Their responsibility was to take care of some of the daily needs of the Christian community so the Apostles could focus on prayer and teaching the Word. Perhaps the most famous were Stephen, who would later become the first Christian martyr, and Philip the Evangelist, who baptized the Eunuch on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza.
In today’s world, as in the early church, the deacon’s job includes a large range of services differing from denomination to denomination and congregation to congregation. In general, deacons function as servants, ministering to the body of believers in practical ways. As in many congregations as well as in our congregation, deacons are laity elected by the church to serve in worship, in pastoral care, and on administrative committees. No matter how they serve, Scripture makes it clear that ministering as a deacon is a rewarding and honorable calling in the church.
Our by-laws outline the responsibilities of a deacon in fairly general terms which allows flexibility with regard to the specific work of a deacon. In our church, the purpose of the Deacon council is to serve as under-shepherds of the Church and as co-laborers with the Pastor. Other statements indicate that the Deacons should promote church harmony, be concerned with the welfare of the total church membership, contribute to effective church leadership, and view their work as the work of God. We have a long history of non-discriminatin in church leadership with regard to gender, electing our first female deacon, Lucy Orr, in 1975.
Our Church Covenant speaks about striving to keep Jesus at the center of our lives, by nurturing and developing our own faith and demonstrating that understanding as we interact with others in the congregation and the larger community. As we enter into a period of emphasis over the next few weeks regarding the election of four new deacons, we ask you to prayerfully consider someone whom you think would serve the church well and nominate them. And for those who have been nominated, we ask that you prayerfully consider the role of a deacon and consent to be nominated. Together, with good leadership, we can accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. Amen.
Suzanne Morse
Chair, Deacon Council
March 16, 2022