Deacons in the Church

[Blue Tick]

Does anyone know where I can get some material on the work of a Deacon in the church? Or can anyone layout what a Deacon does in the church?

 

[Mayflower]

Dear John,

Check this out :

THE DEACON:AN INQUIRY INTOTHE NATURE, DUTIES, AND EXERCISE OF THE OFFICE OF DEACON,IN THECHRISTIAN CHURCH. BY JAMES M. WILLSON
http://www.covenanter.org/JMWillson/Deacon/thedeacon.htm

A Historical and Biblical Examination of Women Deacons
Brian M. Schwertley

http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/deacon.htm

These articels help also alot against the view of having women deacons.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Westminster Form of Presbyterian Church Government:

Deacons.

THe Scripture doth hold out Deacons as distinct Officers in the Church, Phil.1:1. 1 Tim. 3:8. Whose office is perpetuall, 1 Tim. 3:8. to vers. 15; Acts 6:1,2,3,4. To whose office it belongs not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments, but to take speciall care in distributing to the necessities of the poor, Acts 6:1,2,3,4. and the verses following.

Geneva Book of Church Order:

Of the Deacons, and
Their Office and Election

The deacons must be men of good estimation and report,[a] discreet, of good conscience; charitable, wise, and finally adorned with such virtues as St. Paul requires in them. Their office is to gather the alms diligently, and faithfully to distribute them, with the consent of the ministers and elders; also to provide for the sick and impotent persons; having ever a diligent care, that the charity of godly men be not wasted upon loiterers and idle vagabonds.[c] Their election is, as has been before rehearsed in the ministers and elders.


a. Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:8-13

b. Rom. 12:7-8

c. 2 Thess. 3:10-12

Second Scottish Book of Discipline:

Chapter 8

Of the Deacons and Their Office,
the Last Ordinary Function in the Kirk
1. The word diavkono" sometimes is largely taken comprehending all them that bear office in the ministry and spiritual function in the kirk. But now, as we speak, it is taken only for them unto whom the collection and distribution of the alms of the faithful and ecclesiastical goods do belong.

2. The office of the deacons so taken is an ordinary and perpetual ecclesiastical function in the kirk of Christ. Of what properties and duties he ought to be that is called to this function, we remit it to the manifest scriptures. The deacon ought to be called and elected as the rest of the spiritual officers, of the which election was spoken before.

3. Their office and power is to receive and to distribute the whole ecclesiastical goods unto them to whom they are appointed. This they ought to do according to the judgment and appointment of the presbyteries or elderships (of the which the deacons are not), that the patrimony of the kirk and poor be not converted to private men's uses, nor wrongfully distributed.

Church Order of Dordt:

ARTICLE 23. The Office of Deacon

The specific duties. of the office of deacon are: to see to the good progress of the service of charity in the congregation; to acquaint themselves with existing needs and difficulties, and to exhort the members of Christ's body to show mercy; further, to gather and manage the offerings and to distribute them in Christ's Name according to need. They shall encourage and comfort with the Word of God those who receive the gifts of Christ's love, and promote with word and deed the unity and fellowship in the Holy Spirit which the congregation enjoys at the table of the Lord.

See also, James Guthrie, A Treatise on Ruling Elders and Deacons; John G. Lorimer, The Deaconship: A Treatise on the Office of Deacon. With suggestions for its revival in the Church of Scotland; John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Chap. 4, Sec. 5-8; PCA Position Paper on Biblical Guidelines for Mercy Ministry in the PCA; Roy Mohon, Deacon Awareness; John Girardeau, The Diaconate and The Importance of the Office of Deacon; Thomas Witherow, The Apostolic Church - Which is it?; Thomas Ridgley, A Body of Divinity, Vol. II, p. 570; Samuel Miller, The Warrant, Nature, and Duties, of the Office of the Ruling Elder, in the Presbyterian Church; Jacob Amos Lefevre, The Diaconate of Scripture and The Presbyterian Diaconate; Thomas Smyth, Presbytery, and Not Prelacy, the Scriptural and Primitive Polity; Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, and Albert Hauck, The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge; Mark R. Brown, Order in the Offices; and John McClintock & James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature; among other reference works on the subject of the diaconate.

 

[Blue Tick]

Thank you!

 

[Ambrose]

Does anyone know where I can get some material on the work of a Deacon in the church? Or can anyone layout what a Deacon does in the church?

I would recommmend George Grant's books on biblical charity. I believe one is called Bringing in the Sheaves. They directly speak to the deacon's roles in very practical ways.

 

[KMK]

I am currently reading Stauch's book "The NT Deacon". I am really enjoying it. I am also reading (concurrently) his book on biblical eldership. I recommend both.