|
FAQ: The Ministry of the
Deacon
What
is a deacon?
Deacons in the Christian
Reformed Church are chosen
by their local congregations
to give leadership to
diaconal ministry.
In this ministry, deacons
empower members of their
own congregation and partner
with neighbouring churches,
Christian services, and
local social agencies. Diaconal Ministry, to
touch people's lives as
Christ's hands and feet,
focuses mainly on the
following areas:
Compassion
Deacons model and
demonstrate compassion
to those who are hurting
with words of
hope and actions for encouragement.
Community
Ministry
Deacons model and encourage
the congregation to
be engaged in community ministry in their communities.
Stewardship
Deacons encourage church members to be stewards of God's creation and to practice authentic stewardship with their time, talents, and money.
Justice
Deacons model and encourage the congregation to be advocates for and with the marginalized and vulnerable people in their own local community.
How
can a deacon make a difference?
With God's help, deacons can be effective. If a deacon is alert/open to needs inside and outside the church, God will reveal the way a deacon may touch people's lives as His hands and feet.
Effective deacons:
-
know their area of
"giftedness"
in diaconal ministry
and take the time to
develop those gifts
through study and training.
- commit
a certain amount of
time and energy to a ministry
opportunity in addition
to the time required
for meetings.
- maintain a healthy balance between
work, family life and
church work.
- involve
their spouses (if married)
as partners in ministry
where and when possible.
- renew
themselves spiritually
on a regular basis.
- pray
often, individually
and with the diaconate.
- celebrate
regularly what God is
doing.
When
is a diaconate at its
best?
The diaconate is at its
best when it:
-
creates a supportive
place for deacons to
share experiences and
pray together
- has clear, written goals that describes
who does what.
Goals establish
a common purpose, provide
a focus, enable the
diaconate to evaluate
what is being done,
offer a sense of accomplishment
and provide mutual
accountability.
- ensures
that there is ongoing
communication with the
elders and the pastor
of the church.
Communication will create
an atmosphere of mutual
respect, trust and appreciation.
Diaconal Ministries
Canada encourages pastors
to attend at least one
diaconal meeting each
year to enhance understanding
and support amongst
the church's leaders.
- affects the mission
and ministries of the
congregation in terms
of its service, stewardship,
justice and community ministry.
Likewise, the diaconate models compassion
and kindness in
both word and deed.
- invites and motivates the congregation to participate in diaconal ministry.
When
is a diaconal meeting
at its best?
Meetings play a significant
role in a diaconate. However, meetings ought
not to replace or take over the
time needed for a deacon
to engage in ministry opportunities
between meetings.
It
is critical that diaconal
ministry be committed
to the Lord in prayer.
Devotions that have been
thoughtfully prepared
prior to the meeting can
increase the resolve of
the deacons to ensure
that their ministry will
reflect the love of Jesus.
Devotions also enhance
respect between deacons
and lead to more meaningful
discussions.
At each meeting, deacons should spend some time learning about diaconal ministry. This time of learning could include study of a particular topic, planning a new ministry or a focused conversation about a challenging ministry situation.
Call
the Diaconal
Ministry Developer
in your classis for more assistance
in setting up an agenda.
What
provides a smooth transition
of new deacons into the
diaconate?
Newly
elected deacons can best
be supported by a mentor
- an experienced deacon
who will help them answer
the practical questions
that will come up in their
work. A mentor is
able to share
his or her experiences and also accompany the
new deacon on visits.
New deacons who are connected
to an experienced deacon
are ready to do ministry
much sooner than those
who are left to discover
the task on their own. The diaconate could also
do the following to assist
the transition:
- provide
a written task description
- explain
how to respond to needs
in the church and community
- detail
the activities in which
the diaconate participates
throughout the year
- encourage
ways to develop
the particular gifts
that a deacon brings
- nurture
each deacon's spiritual
growth with regular
prayer and devotions
What
is the ideal number of
deacons for a church?
The number of deacons
required in a church depends
upon the scope of the
ministries that a diaconate
has developed and leads. Each
church needs to decide
how many deacons are necessary. In
order to help make that
decision, a church may find it useful to review the role of
the deacon as found in
the ordination form and
explained by Diaconal Ministries Canada on the web site.
In response, the number of deacons can be determined.
|
