The issue of deacon nomination and election continues to be a challenge for many churches. There doesn’t seem to be a flawless procedure. Every nomination process I am aware of seems to have pros and cons. Permit me to give some guidelines that I have found helpful. Please send me your plans that are working for you. Send to EdwardHHammett@mchsi.com
Guidelines for Deacon Nomination and Election
While most plans have challenges there are some principles and guidelines that you might consider as you craft your process.
- Understand this is a leadership position with a biblical foundation. Explore, review and clarify for your context I Timothy, Titus passages.Visit Deacon Resources additional guidance
- Understand deacons are critical team members for keeping the church focused on her biblical mission and to partner with pastor in pastoral care
- Clarify the needed function of your deacons for your congregation at this time in history before declaring a structure for your deacon ministry. Today there are various models. (For a review of the deacon ministry models visit Visit Deacon Resources additional guidance
- Be intentional about sharing information with the congregation about each deacon’s understanding of deacon ministry and their spiritual journey. There is a spiritual inventory and guidance for this process in my Strengthening Deacon Ministry for the 21st Century. See below for ordering information.
- Educate the congregation about the Biblical foundation of deacon ministry and clarify expectations before nominations and elections are held. I offer a 6 week process in my Strengthening Deacon Ministry book.
- Nominations and elections are guided by each church’s by-laws and needs. In Baptist life the congregation usually makes the final nominations and decisions. Increasingly I hear from churches who can not find an adequate number of nominees who are willing to serve. Often this is because the role of deacon is misunderstood or the spiritual condition of the membership is such that leaders have not been matured. Sometimes the nominees just do not want to do ministry by the model of ministry currently in practice.
- Having fewer qualified deacons is better for the congregation than electing more deacons who might be called for but are not qualified or spiritually ready.
- Once nominations and elections are complete be certain to involve family and friends in the ordination of newly elected deacons. Make this a memorable and affirming moment for everyone who has invested in this new deacons life.
Many varying models of nomination and election are practiced in churches across the country. I’m providing you some links that might help in your search for a more effective nomination and election model. I would appreciate it if you would send me your model and indicate it’s strengths and weaknesses.
NEW RESOURCES now available. Strengthening Deacon Ministry for the 21st Century has been updated and new material has been added. This congregational guidebook offers deacons and congregation a 6 week education guide that helps clarify expectations prior to deacon nomination and election. A great resource for new deacons. It explores various models of deacon ministry and offers tools for making decisions as to the most effective model for your church at this time in history. Email me for orders at a discount. Single copy $10/each; More than 10 copies $8/copy. Send checks to Baptist State Convention of NC, C/O Linda Kreiter, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512. EdwardHHammett@mchsi.com
Order Deacon Ministry Newsletters 1999-2002 (Vol. 1) or 2003-2004 (Vol. 2) in print or on CD by mailing $12/copy (for NC Baptists) and ($14/copy for Non-NC Baptists) Price includes mailing charges. See product page at www.transformingsolutions.org for topics covered and order form or email lkreiter@ncbaptist.org Make check payable to Baptist State Convention of NC, mail to P.O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512. Attn. Linda Kreiter
Visit www.transformingsolutions.org for new updates.
©Eddie Hammett – www.transformingsolutions.org and www.ncbaptist.org
