What is a Deacon?
As we move forward with redefining leadership at LakeView, you’ll hear us talk more about Deacons. This paper looks at the terms, qualifications, and responsibilities of Deacons at LakeView Church.
Terminology
The English word "deacon" is a transliteration of the Greek word diakonos, which appears 29 times in the NT. It means an assistant, intermediary, or courier. When diakonos is not rendered “deacon” in English, it is most often translated "servant." Other translations include "attendant" (Matt 22:13, NIV, ESV) and "minister" (2 Cor 3:6, NIV, ESV). Paul used diakonos in reference to himself in Ephesians 3:7 and to Jesus in Romans 15:8. In other uses, diakonos has a more formalized meaning. Paul greeted "all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons (diakonos)" (Phil 1:1). He also used diakonos to refer to specific servant-leaders in churches, including Tychicus (Eph 6:21), Epaphras (Col 1:7), and Phoebe (Rom 16:1).
Qualifications
In 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Paul gives qualifications for those serving in the office of Deacon. They must:
Be dignified
Not be two-faced
Not be given to excessive drinking
Not be greedy for gain
Hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience
Be tested
Not be slanderous
Be temperate
Be faithful in every respect
Be faithful to their spouse
Be good managers of their children and their households
Responsibilities
Deacons serve as helpers to the Overseers in the care and leadership of God's flock. Acts 6:1-6 demonstrates the relationship between Deacons and Overseers well. When there was a complaint in the church about the service (diakonia) of distributing food to the widows among them, the Apostles said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve (diakoneō) tables” (v. 2). They instructed the congregation to select seven men who would carry this responsibility (v. 3) so that the Apostles could “devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (v. 4).
Thus, Deacons assist Overseers primarily by taking responsibility for the congregation's physical needs, which can include everything from managing Mercy Fund distributions to donation management, building and grounds management, bookkeeping, shut-in visitation, organizing ministry teams, and more. Deacons may also teach, but this is not a requirement of Deacons in the same way it is for Overseers (see 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:9). Deacons do not hold the same authority in teaching, directional leadership, adjudicating, or carrying out church discipline as Overseers. Instead, they assist the overseers in implementing the ministry of shepherding and administration.
At LakeView, Deacon will be an office of leadership, but Deacons will not be a governing body. Some will help the Overseers in leading Gospel Communities. Others will assist the ministry staff in week-to-week operational tasks (e.g., leading the BIG Team, serving as Treasurer, leading worship services, teaching Bible studies, etc.). Deacons will be appointed to a one-year term as needed, depending on the year's direction, vision, and ministry needs.
