RFC: Questions and Answers – Deacons

I’ve been quiet. I’ve been busy. I wish I had more time to blog because there’s so much to talk about. Anyhow, such is life.

We’ve been going through 1 Timothy at Crystal Park Baptist Church this year. 16 sermons in and we’re going to be starting chapter 4 this week. So a few Sundays back we broached the question of deacons: Who are they and what do they do? The Questions and Answers below is a summary of our thinking. Take a look, feel free to comment. Below is an extract of our church constitution relevant to the deaconate.

To find out more about Crystal Park Baptist Church click here. Click the image to enlarge.

Diaconate

15.1 The Church may, from its membership, elect deacons who, at the time of election, will be:

15.1.1 over 21 years of age;

15.1.2 in membership not less than 6 months

15.2 The number of Deacons shall not be less than 2 and the number of deacons other than Secretary and Treasurer not be more than 4.

15.3 A Deacon shall hold office for two consecutive years and shall be eligible for nomination for a further two year consecutive period, but thereafter will only be eligible for nomination after a period of one year has elapsed.

15.4 Nomination for the office of Deacon shall be submitted in writing to the Church Secretary duly signed by the nominee, proposer and seconder not later than eight days prior to the meeting when the election shall take place.

15.5 The names of all nominees shall be made known at all services on the Sunday prior to the date of the meeting at which the election shall take place. This shall be done by announcement and by the posting of the names on the Church Notice-board.

15.6 In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Deacon such vacancy may be filled in the aforesaid manner at a General Meeting, but only for the unexpired period of the previous incumbent’s term of office.

15.7 Voting shall be by ballot.

15.8 Only nominees receiving more than two-thirds of the votes of members present shall be elected to fill the vacancies.

15.9 There shall not be an office of life-time Deacon.

Real people with real questions looking for real answers

On Sundays I get asked all manner of questions. This is one of them: What about Tattoos? I’m putting it up here because I know enough people have an opinion on this and if my answer has any glaring Scriptural errors it will get pulled apart in no time.

Of interest one could substitute the word tattoo in the answer below with a plethora of other words: TV, Video Games, Golf, guys night out, alcohol… OK, Paragraph 1 wouldn’t apply to every single one of those :).

Anyone given more than a cursory glance to Revelation 19:16 before? To be honest I’d as soon not include it in the answer but I’m afraid that’d be dishonest (the possiblity exists that it’s a scriptura scripturam interpretatur thing). The hour is getting late, my books are at the church and I need to get some sleep but I did manage to do a few internet commentry lookups: Alas Calvin didn’t get to Revelation, Henry is as helpless as ever and Barnes seems to attribute the thigh to the hilt of a sword (I’m not convinced so I changed the wording of my second sentance from, “…does not directly…” to “…does not clearly…”).

To find out more about Crystal Park Baptist Church click here. Click the image to enlarge.

A Penrith Update ∙ December 2010

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A Penrith Update ∙ December 2010. Click image to enlarge.

Pewslip 12 December 2010

Crystal Park Baptist Church is a Baptist Union church located in Crystal Park, Benoni. Pewslip 12^th December 2010. Click the image to enlarge.

Pewslip 5 December 2010

Crystal Park Baptist Church is a Baptist Union church located in Crystal Park, Benoni. Pewslip 5^th December 2010. Click the image to enlarge.