What is the ministry of the Deacon ?
Deacons connect the people within the church with the needs of the world.
Deacons exemplify Christian discipleship, create opportunities for others to enter into discipleship, and connect the needs and hurts of the people with the church.[4]
- In the world, the deacon seeks to express a ministry of compassion and justice and assists lay persons as they claim their own ministry.
- In the congregation, the ministry of the deacon is to teach and to form disciples, and to lead worship together with other ordained and lay persons, connecting the needs and hurts of the people with the church.
Deacons are called to a lifetime of servant leadership. In the church’s life they give leadership:
- in the teaching and proclamation of the Word
- in worship and in assisting the church leaders in the administration of the sacraments of baptism and communion.
- in forming and nurturing disciples
- in conducting marriages and burying the dead.
- in the congregation’s mission to the world
- in leading the congregation in interpreting the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world
Deacons provide care and compassion for the poor and oppressed and seek social justice for all. They are called to offer leadership amongst the people in a ministry of service to the world.
Deacons are called to the ministry of loving service who are recognised by the church as having the gifts and graces essential for this ministry, who has undertake the necessary theological education for the ministry and has been set apart by ordination for the ministry as a Deacon.
Diaconal ministry takes Christ as the model: the humble servant who washes feet, the one who preaches good news to the poor, proclaims freedom to prisoners, sight for the blind, releases the oppressed and proclaims the year of the Lord’s favour.
All Christians are called to this ministry of service. Those who are Deacons are to embody this ministry in their life and work and are to equip and enable the diaconal ministry of all church members. [1]
1 Timothy 3New International Version (NIV)
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseerdesires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.[3]
So where do deacons serve ?[2] Because deacons connect the people within the church with the needs of the world, their places of ministry are broad and go beyond the weekly service. The following list gives example of where a deacon could serve.
In congregations
- As part of a team ministry
- Administration
- Music leadership
- Christian education
- Mission outreach
- Pastoral care and visitation
- Life-stage ministries (youth, children, young adults, family, or older adults)
- Business administration
- Evangelism
- Language or culture ministries
A group of churches or district
- Music ministry
- Disaster relief
- Homeless ministry
- Community outreach
- Youth or other life-stage ministry
- Mission strategy
- Rehabilitation ministries
- Counseling
- Parish nursing
Beyond the Congregation
- Community centers
- Schools
- Aged-care facilities
- Counseling
- Hospice-care centers
- Hospitals
- Ministry with the incarcerated
- Industry
- Church-related agencies
- Group homes
- Social justice advocacy organizations
- Disability advocacy
- Legal aid
- Chaplaincy
[header image source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/theministryofdeaconsandelders-120418202445-phpapp01/95/the-ministry-of-deacons-and-elders-5-728.jpg?cb=1334780755]
[1] edited from http://unitingcollege.org.au/study-pathways/uniting-ministry-pathways/uniting-church-ministry
[2] http://www.gbhem.org/clergy/deacons-and-diaconal-ministers/exploring/ministry-deacon
[3] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%203:8-13
[4] http://www.gbhem.org/ministry/ministry-deacon
Video links
http://www.c3nextstep.com/deacons-training
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