Deacons in the Church

Deacons comprise a unique office and function in the local church. God organized the church to have deacons. These men are special servants to carry out certain tasks within the work and organization of the local church.

The term deacon simply means “servant” or “minister.” Their role pertaining to leadership is unique in that on one hand, they are not leaders. While they must have certain characteristics to serve in a particular function (1 Timothy 3:8-13), they are simply servants with responsibilities. On the other hand, they are leaders, because their responsibility (and the leadership inherent within such responsibility) makes them leaders. For example, in Acts 6, the Apostles encouraged the congregation in Jerusalem to select seven “servants” to be responsible for the daily ministry to the widows, solving the problem that had arisen in the process. Did they serve? Of course, they did. Yet did they lead? The position in which the Apostles placed them inherently carried with it responsibility, and with such, an amount of leadership. Such is also true concerning elders and deacons in the local church setting.

To show such is true, deacons are to involve the congregation in their work, not simply do the work themselves. Proper delegation is very important in not only fulfilling the work of the church but also executing proper organization in the entire body of Christ working as a single unit. When the Apostle Paul described the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12, he recognized the importance of every single individual member. Therefore, elders, deacons and ministers aren’t supposed to do all the work of the church. Deacons especially must involve the members in their work. Deacons must exercise responsibility. One cannot be a deacon without understanding responsibility and dependability. The church will greatly benefit when congregations appoint deacons who understand these and exercise them in fulfilling their appointed roles.

Therefore, while the seven men of Acts 6 were not necessarily called deacons, they do serve as a model for such an office. When the church properly utilizes deacons and they work diligently under the supervision of the elders, great things will happen! “So the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples grew rapidly in Jerusalem, and a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7 [MEV]).

Let’s all work together with our deacons here at Mentor in harmony and peace to assure that those in need in our congregation are not overlooked. May God bless us in this endeavor!