Deacons

[Goodbook]

Do you have deacons in your church?
Or just elders?
I like to know because apparently we used to have them and it was fine but for some reason it changed, one of my church lady friends was nominated elder but she says the role isnt what she thought it would be.

 

[SkyWriting]

Do you have deacons in your church?
Or just elders? I like to know because apparently we used to have them and it was fine but for some reason it changed, one of my church lady friends was nominated elder but she says the role isnt what she thought it would be.

And how was it different? Lots of work?

 

[Goodbook]

She said she thought it would be more looking after spiritual needs of the congregation than nuts and bolts of building issues etc.

It seems to me perhaps the deacons are meant to do that, at least thats what I gather. I could be wrong.

 

[davidcrosby]

Read Titus 1:5-9 for qualifications of an elder.

 

[davidcrosby]

Deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos and is translated as servant in John 6:25, 12:26, and as minister in Rom. 13:4. It is an office of the Church where individuals are designated to help in the ministry, sometimes by taking care of such needs as church welfare, feeding the homeless, taking care of the sick in the church, etc.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi Goodbook, I'm part of the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America). Most Ev Free churches that I am aware of separate those dealing with the teaching and spiritual needs of the church (Elders) from the "nuts and bolts" (as you called it) physical needs/ministries of our churches, which are handled by our Deacons (under the authority of our Elders/Pastors, of course).

As a result, women may serve as Deacons, but not as Elders or Pastors.

Yours and His,
David

 

[Goodbook]

Read Titus 1:5-9 for qualifications of an elder.

Thats a bishop.
Not an elder..elders can be female and male. It just means someone elder looking after the younger. eg elder women look after the younger women, that's why we have female elders..I have always looked to the female elders for counsel on feminine matters as I am younger woman. I won't get the same counsel from an elder male.

I just wondered if deacons were something else, and why our church doesn't designate them separately as it used to. Apparently they now follow the 'ministry model' which doesn't seem to work as well.

 

[Goodbook]

Sorry I don't know if 'evangelical free america' has anything to do with baptist churches in nz. I know different churches do things differently.

 

[DeaconDean]

The Presbyterians, at one time, followed the scriptural example of bishops, elders, and deacons. My grandfather was a "ruling elder" in the Presbyterian church.

Baptists, many, many years ago, had elders. All one has to do is read the historic Baptist circular letters.

Today, in many Baptist churches, elders are now referred to not only the "older" members of the church, but those who are "spiritually more mature".

I was asked, and accepted to be a deacon of my church in 2002. (?) (I was only 40 years old at the time) While in seminary studies, I also found out that I was also considered an "elder" of the church.

Three years ago I posted almost the same question here.

Here is a link to the thread I started: http://www.christianforums.com/threads/baptist-elders.7723715/

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[DeaconDean]

Hi Goodbook, I'm part of the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America). Most Ev Free churches that I am aware of separate those dealing with the teaching and spiritual needs of the church (Elders) from the "nuts and bolts" (as you called it) physical needs/ministries of our churches, which are handled by our Deacons (under the authority of our Elders/Pastors, of course).

As a result, women may serve as Deacons, but not as Elders or Pastors.

Yours and His,
David

May I ask how you came to that conclusion?

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Goodbook]

Thanks deacondean I will have a read of that thread later. Its a bit confusing for me, the different roles. My church sister friend is now a nana, but shes not the eldest in the church.

 

[St_Worm2]

May I ask how you came to that conclusion?

Hi DD, are you asking about the Biblical basis of my denomination's choice to allow women to serve as deaconesses, or did you mean something else? In any case, I'll probably need to look it up as I was referring to my denomination's stated position, not mine personally.

If it is our reason for allowing women to serve on our deacon board, I suspect that it has something to do with St. Paul referring to Phoebe as a "deaconess" in Romans 16:1 (and one or two other places .. 1 Timothy 3:11* perhaps?), thus legitimizing the role of, "deaconess", if true.

*(there is, of course, the question about, γυνή [gune] / "women", in v11 as referring to the "wives of deacons" (AV), or to "deaconesses".

Again, please let me know what you are looking for 'specifically' and I'll try to find my denomination's reason for believing what they do.

Thanks!

In Christ,
David

 

[DeaconDean]

Hi DD, are you asking about the Biblical basis of my denomination's choice to allow women to serve as deaconesses, or did you mean something else? In any case, I'll probably need to look it up as I was referring to my denomination's stated position, not mine personally.

If it is our reason for allowing women to serve on our deacon board, I suspect that it has something to do with St. Paul referring to Phoebe as a "deaconess" in Romans 16:1 (and one or two other places .. 1 Timothy 3:11 perhaps?), thus legitimizing the role of, "deaconess", if true.

Again though, please let me know what you're looking for specifically and I'll try to find my denomination's reason for believing what they do.

Thanks!

In Christ,
David

If your opinion is different than that of your denominations, please, please say so.

I have been through numerous debates here in my own area about this. (deaconess) I have found that it does not match up with the scriptural qualifications.

I became a deacon in 2002. And as a result, my wife being a wife of a deacon, became a deaconess. The vagueness of the Greek term, (yes I know that in the Greek it is feminine) does not give us enough evidence to say without a doubt that she was nothing more than a plain old "servant" to the church. How do we know she wasn't married to a deacon at the time and "inherited" the title?

I also know that Tertullian wrote on women deaconesses but their role in the church was very, very limited. To be specific, it was limited to teaching the younger women in the church and to help women before being baptized.

Other than that, I know nothing else.

And I do know that there is one qualification that is "universal" to bishops, elders/presbyters, and deacons.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Goodbook]

There was this reformed guy visiting my church and he said 'women cant be elders' but then I said, tell that to my friend who is one. Plus what about titus, saying the elder women teach the the younger to love their husbands.

Then he countered with something out of timothy, but timothy was talking about bishop (or what we say is senior pastor) not elders in general.

Man thats annoying some wiseguy reformed male trying to negate the entire female sex. As if the younger women are meant to learn from...their babies?? Im not going to ask an elder male on female things.

 

[Goodbook]

I asked my elder lady sister, do you have more people ask you things now you are known as an elder and she said..no..not really. Then I asked her, well what do you do and she said she and the elders all just have a meeting once a month.

Im guessing they just discuss church things. Maybe its just a token role I dont know. But shes only been in it a few months so maybe more will come later and there will be certain ministries, I would think elders go visit the sick and pray for them, teaching the youngers the steps of faith and stuff like that.

Deacons I would think serve the church faithfully with practical good works like cleaning, catering etc. which is what a lot of members already do even thiugh they arent recognised or called that.

But...this lady did ask me am I a member of this church and should I want to be one? Well im not officially. (Members take a pledge and have a vote, I think...also, they dont go to any other churches. ) Should I be one? Even though ive been attending for about five years now.

 

[98cwitr]

Deacons...12 of them

 

[Goodbook]

There seem to be three designated elders in my church serving a congregation of around 80. Every two years new ones get nominated.

Elder doesnt include the pastors.
Everyone else that has certain regular church roles I guess could be classed as deacons, even if we dont call them that.

 

[98cwitr]

There seem to be three designated elders in my church serving a congregation of around 80. Every two years new ones get nominated.

Elder doesnt include the pastors.
Everyone else that has certain regular church roles I guess could be classed as deacons, even if we dont call them that.

Pastors? As in head and associate?

 

[Goodbook]

yes, one is senior and one is junior, the senior looks after oldies and junior the children. I think most larger churches have this arrangement, some churches have several.

I think its good because even pastors need a holiday now and again and they do work as a team.

 

[now faith]

If your opinion is different than that of your denominations, please, please say so.

I have been through numerous debates here in my own area about this. (deaconess) I have found that it does not match up with the scriptural qualifications.

I became a deacon in 2002. And as a result, my wife being a wife of a deacon, became a deaconess. The vagueness of the Greek term, (yes I know that in the Greek it is feminine) does not give us enough evidence to say without a doubt that she was nothing more than a plain old "servant" to the church. How do we know she wasn't married to a deacon at the time and "inherited" the title?

I also know that Tertullian wrote on women deaconesses but their role in the church was very, very limited. To be specific, it was limited to teaching the younger women in the church and to help women before being baptized.

Other than that, I know nothing else.

And I do know that there is one qualification that is "universal" to bishops, elders/presbyters, and deacons.

God Bless

Till all are one.

Deacon,a simple question and I value your answer.
On the Topic of Deacons being the husband of one wife,how do you view this?
Does it apply to divorce,or literally only one rather than multiple wives?

As well if a Church had no title of Deacon there,would this by pass the schripture by calling them Elders?