Purpose

Deacons are to be servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ serving in and through the church as partners with the pastoral staff enabling the church to fulfill the Great Commission.  Deacons represent an extension of the pastoral ministry and are considered as leader-servants of the church.  In Acts 6:1-6 the following principles of service define the original purpose of deacons:

1.  To assist the pastor in performing pastoral responsibilities, for example visitation ministry, church administrative matters, ministry to the sick and needy.

2.  To give special attention to the needs of the membership, especially widows.

3.  To establish and maintain fraternal relations with, and inspire insight of, all members of the church.

4.  To seek the physical, moral, and spiritual needs of the church family, and to serve the whole church in relieving, encouraging and developing all who are in such need.

5.  To be examples within the fellowship of wisdom, spirituality, faithfulness, and a good attested character.

6.  To counsel with the pastor and by such methods as the Holy Spirit may direct in accordance with the New Testament teachings; they are to have oversight of the discipline of the church, in the administering of which they are always to be guided by the principles set forth in Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 5: 9-13; and Thessalonians 5: 12-14.