Thinking About Deacons (Part Five)

[Our friend and frequent contributor, Thomas Overmiller, is working through a series of studies on the office of deacon. He is posting these as short studies, we are combining several posts into this post. We hope it is profitable for you. See part one, part two, part three, part four. – Editor.]

Deacons in the Church: Voluntary Activity

A Ministry of Voluntary Service

In contrast to the pastoral office, there is no biblical evidence to suggest that deacons received remuneration for the services they rendered to the church. However, it is important to provide them with the necessary freedom and resources to complete the tasks which the church has assigned to them, without encumbrance.

Pastors should provide general leadership and take ultimate responsibility for the services that deacons provide. But after they define such duties, they should refrain from micromanaging these affairs. Failure to cooperate with deacons this way will undermine their fundamental function, which is freeing up pastors from over-involvement in the financial and material affairs of the church.

While it is true that deacons (and the congregation) should show general respect to the preaching and teaching ministry of pastors (Heb 13:17), it is also true that pastors (and the congregation) should show general respect to the serving ministries of the deacons. The key is that both fulfill their duties in submission to the clear teaching of the Word of God (Acts 17:11; 1 Cor 11:1; 2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2).

Questions to Discuss

1. Why is it important for pastors and deacons (and a church) to show respect to one another in fulfilling their respective roles?
2. What is the key for pastors and deacons fulfilling their duties properly?

Deacons in the Church: Church Harmony and Conclusion

Apart from the character qualifications we’ve already considered, the only place in Scripture that provides insight into appointing new deacons is Acts 6:1-6. Since no later teaching in Acts or the epistles alters or annuls this example and since this example follows a longstanding historical precedent in Scripture (Exo 18:21; Deut 1:13), it is fitting to view this scenario as a biblical case study for appointing deacons in a church. In this example, we find harmonious cooperation between pastors and the congregation.

Pastors recognized a need within the congregation.

As the pastors of the growing church at Jerusalem discipled new converts and mingled with people throughout the church, they heard a growing criticism (Acts 6:1). Greek-speaking Jewish converts complained that widows in Hebrew-speaking families were receiving preferential treatment, while other widows were being neglected.

The pastors agreed that this unintended problem needed resolution. The sought a solution, providing all widows with proper care, and guarding the church from division. However, they knew that solving this logistical problem themselves would diminish their ability to meet the necessary spiritual needs of the congregation (Acts 6:2, 4).

Pastors defined the need, outlined the qualifications, then asked for recommendations from the congregation.

The pastors of the church at Jerusalem did not merely select and appoint men to meet this need. They asked the congregation to recommend an appropriate number of men from within the congregation for this purpose (Acts 6:3). Doing this ensured that the church would appoint men whom the congregation trusted and respected, encouraging transparency and enabling proper representation.

Furthermore, the pastors requested a plurality of deacons. In fact, as with pastors, the NT always refers to deacons as a plurality (Phil 1:1). Multiple deacons ensure proper accountability and necessary teamwork to fulfill their tasks. For selecting these men, the pastors provided basic guidelines for the spiritual and personal character required to serve in this capacity (Acts 6:3, 5). Several years later, Paul provided more detailed requirements (1 Tim 3:8-13).

Pastors confirmed the candidates.

Once the congregation had selected seven candidates with unanimous consent, they presented the names to the pastors of the church. After affirming that these men met the necessary requirements, the pastors prayerfully and officially appointed these men to meet the needs of the widows in the church.

It is instructive to note that this appointing process, whereby the people receiving representation nominate representatives but leadership appoints them, appears in the significant OT counterpart to NT deacon delegation. In this scenario, Moses instructed the congregation of Israel to select men to represent them, having specific qualifications (Exo 18:21). He said, “You choose them and I will appoint them, so long as they meet the qualifications” (Deut 1:13). The church at Jerusalem followed the same pattern in selecting and appointing deacons.

Questions to Discuss

1. What New Testament passage provides evidence for how to appoint new deacons?
2. What Old Testament, historical example does this resemble?
3. Who recognized the need for deacons?
4. How did they learn about this need?
5. Whom did the pastors ask to recommend new deacons?
6. Why is it beneficial for a church to have more than one deacon?
7. Who confirmed the qualifications of the new deacon recommendations?
8. How did Moses show a similar example?

Conclusion

In summary, God intends for churches to appoint deacons who will relieve the pastors of a growing congregation from many of these duties. This enables pastors to devote more continual effort to prayer, meditation, counseling, teaching, mentoring, sermon preparation, and other forms of Bible study that will meet the spiritual needs of the church (Acts 6:4; 1 Tim 4:13-16).

Following this God-ordained strategy of delegation yields optimal results. In this arrangement, not only do pastors strengthen their focus and become more effective at meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation, but members also receive more efficient care of other important needs at the same time. This comprehensive increase of efficiency boosts morale, accelerates personal growth, and improves ministry preparedness throughout the congregation (Eph 4:11-16).

Beyond this internal upside, there is an external and eternal upside as well. This pastor-deacon arrangement improves the reputation of the church in the surrounding community and expands gospel outreach possibilities and effectiveness.

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Thomas Overmiller is the pastor of Brookdale Baptist Church in Moorhead, MN and blogs at Shepherd Thoughts. This article first appeared at Shepherd Thoughts, used here with permission. This version is edited for length, the full version is here.