BOARD OF DEACONS

The Diaconate consists of four Deacons and four Deaconessess, each an active church member. Each is elected to a four-year term with the chairperson and the recording secretary elected yearly. The Pastor is a member of the Diaconate with full privileges and voting rights. A diaconate member who serves three or more terms may be elected as a Deacon/Deaconess Emeritus by the church membership. This is an honor bestowed upon the individual by the Diaconate and the church. The Diaconate and the Pastor together oversee the spiritual life of the church. The Diaconate assists in preparing and serving the sacraments. They are responsible for supplying the pulpit when the Pastor is on vacation and providing an interim pastor should the pulpit be vacant. They are responsible for reviewing and meeting with applicants for membership into the church and for making recommendation regarding those applicants. Other responsibilities include preparing the church for worship; insuring the hymnals, envelopes and prayer cards are in the pews, the hymn numbers are correctly posted and the paramet colors are correct. They are available to assist the members of the congregation in any way needed.

The Diaconate provides the Lord’s supper and assists in its administration. They are responsible for providing lay readers, acolytes and greeters and for assisting the Pastor with the sacrament of baptism and the conduct of the worship.

The Diaconate has the sole administration of the Deacon’s Fund, which is collected every Communion Sunday. The Pastor as deemed appropriate expends those funds. The members of the Diaconate visit the sick and needy and provide home Communion.

Each year a junior Deacon and Deaconess is elected to the board. They serve a one-year term and are usually a junior or senior in high school and are active in the life of the church.

The Diaconate provides a member to serve on the nominating committee, the chairperson serves on the church cabinet, and one member serves on the nominating committee. The Diaconate oversees the Pastoral Relations committee and provides advice, council and support to the Pastor in regard to the worship service, relationships to members, singly or as a whole and provides leadership to the church body.

Information taken in part from the church bylaws and the Diaconate Handbook