Consecrated Deacon Manual
Path to Servant Leadership /
Mark Adams & Rick Martin
8/7/2012
Table of Contents
The Consecrated Deacon
Are You Called to the Deaconate?
Christian Character and Health Living Required
Celebrating the Deaconate
What is a Consecrated Deacon’s Relationship to the Annual Conference and Local Church?
The Consecrated Deacon Pathway
Developing the Deacon
Clear Deacon Development Path
Developing the Christian Foundations and Ministry Specifics
Appendices
The Consecrated Deacon
Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). More than any term used to characterize the nature of Christian leadership, Jesus applied the concept of servanthood. The Greek word used in the language of Jesus and the Apostles for servant was “diakoneo” from which we today take the word “deacon.” The New Testament describes several people that were set apart by the overseers of the church to take particular roles for encouraging, serving and building up the body of Christ, and called “deacons.” Such individuals include Stephen, the first Christian martyr, Philip who began serving tables and became a great evangelist, Phoebe who was a strong ministry partner for the Apostle Paul.
The Free Methodist Church believes all Christians and members of our churches are “ministers” and called to love and serve God wholeheartedly, and to love and serve their churches and communities as they live out Christ within. Some members are called to the “itinerate ministry” and may be ordained to serve as pastors, referred to as “elders” in the Free Methodist Church. Elders commit to being under the authority of their oversees who may appoint them to particular communities, near or far, as the need arises and their particular gifts and vocation may be what is necessary in a particular place.
Some members may be called to a more local and more specific form of ministry. Neither intending nor desiring to be relocated under an appointment system, but desiring to serve in a formally credentialed and accountable fashion for the sake of Christ and His church, such a person may become a “Consecrated Deacon.”
Are You Called to the Deaconate?
Consecrated Deacons are members in good standing in the Free Methodist Church. They are persons of good reputation, full of wisdom and the Spirit, whose spiritual gifts from God have been confirmed by their local churches. In response to God’s call on their lives, deacons offer servant-leadership in particular areas of congregational life, according to the gifts and graces God has given and they have developed. Complementing the work of elders, deacons serve the local church by assisting and leading the membership to carry out its ministries to one another and the world. (BOD ¶6600A).
The specialized ministries of the deacons include, but are not limited to, ministries of administration, caregiving, mercy, Christian education, communications, disciple-making, mentoring, outreach, evangelism, church-based community service, worship, music, spiritual nurture, counseling, prayer, technology and other creative arts.
If you sense a call and experience the gifting for these specialized ministries, then you may desire to pursue the path of becoming a Consecrated Deacon. Under the leadership of your pastor(s), you will explore and develop your particular gifting and calling, and follow a healthy course of learning through reading, discourse, experience and practical guidance to strengthen your sense of call into a skillful exercise of powerful ministry in your local context. This will take work and dedication. Your local church’s Board of Administration will provide the group which will evaluate and approve your progress and fruitfulness, granting a license and annual renewal thereof, of your status as a “Consecrated Deacon.” When you have completed the work, and have the approval of your local church’s Board of Administration, the Conference Superintendent or designee will arrange for the formal ritual in which you are “consecrated” – publicly set apart – for the high calling of Deacon in the tradition of the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles. Ultimately, the reward is hearing Jesus say in glory, “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
Christian Character and Health Living Required
Consecrated Deacons are leaders within the Free Methodist Church. As such, Deacons are required to live according to the requirements of the leadership laid out in the Book of Discipline, which are grounded in the Scriptures. We expect that the leaders of the church will 1) live consistently within scriptural guidelines for leaders (e.g. Exodus 18:21, Acts 6:3, 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9); express Christlike attitudes in life and in relationships, give evidence of spiritual gifts such as leadership, faith and administration; agree with and sincerely seek to live out the goals for their maturing life in Christ; continue in harmony with Free Methodist doctrine and mission; and are vital in faith, faithful in attendance and financially supportive of their church to at least the level of a tithe (BOD ¶6200).
A significant aspect of being a Biblical people is ensuring the Scriptural view and practice of marriage. When a prospective deacon or his/her spouse hasbeen divorced, clearance for ministry shall be required,according to denominational guidelinesused by the Board of Bishops. The local church board of administration will conduct the process which may lead to a “divorce clearance” and if they so recommend a clearance, provide this recommendation and documentation to the North Central Conference Regional Ministerial Education and Guidance Board chair for final review.
Celebrating the Deaconate
When you have completed the work leading to approval for formal consecration, you have accomplished something significant. To recognize your accomplishment, the honing of your God-given Spiritual-gifts into excellent strengths for ministry, you will be “consecrated” in either a public worship service of your local church or at a regional celebration such as a GROW Event. The Conference Superintendent (or designee, such as District Superintendent), with assistance from your pastor, will arrange to perform the ritual which formally and publically sets you apart (consecrates) for particular task of the Deaconate.
What is a Consecrated Deacon’s Relationship to the Annual Conference and Local Church?
Deacons remain members of the local Free MethodistChurch, and are not formally members of the Annual Conference (as are ordained elders). Deacons may therefore serve as lay delegates toannual conference and general conference. While a Deacon does not automatically serve on the local Board of Administration, he or she may be elected by the Society to this capacity. A Deacon may administer the sacraments (Lord’s Supper, Baptism) but only with the approval of the appointed pastor under which he or she serves, however only an ordained Elder may legally officiate a wedding in any of the states encompassed by the North Central Conference (see also ¶6610).
The Consecrated Deacon Pathway
Step 1 / Discernment and Spiritual Direction with Pastor / Sense of calling and giftednessSense of spiritual and character maturity
Membership requirements and standing
Review of Deaconate path, requirements and benefits
Step 2 / Apply to Deaconate Process / If pastor and candidate agree, begin application process
See appendix for forms.
Step 3 / Consent of Board of Administration / Prepare with pastor to meet with Board
Pastor may prepare board to meet with candidate
Interview with Board of Administration
If needed, begin Divorce Clearance process (appendix)
(Step 4 cannot commence without Divorce Clearance)
Step 4 / Presentation to the Congregation / In a public worship service, affirm the decision to pursue the Deaconate.
Step 5 / Begin Core Training Process / Spiritual formation and character development
Theological and Biblical literacy
Basic evangelism and mentoring
Free Methodist history and polity
Step 6 / Develop specialized calling / Identify specific ministry calling with Pastor
This should further the mission of the local church.
Develop experiences for this specific ministry area.
(May require resources & consult outside of local church)
Step 7 / Develop Personal Mission Statement / Develop personal mission statement with pastor.
Develop strategic plan to live out this mission in context of the church and community.
Step 8 / Assess progress / On a quarterly basis, assess progress with pastor.
When all work is completed to mutual satisfaction, the Pastor will make recommendation for Consecration to BOA.
Step 9 / Post-training Interview with the Board of Administration / BOA will review mission and plan from candidate.
BOA will interview candidate for final approval to Deaconate.
BOA may recommend for approval, recommend further work, or deny approval.
The Deacon may commence work as a Deacon with BOA approval prior to formal consecration by Superintendent.
Step 10 / Consecration / Assuming BOA approves, set Consecration ceremony time.
GROW event or in local church with Superintendent.
Developing the Deacon
Deacons are part of the larger church leadership team. In most athletic teams, every player regardless of position must have a core understanding of the rules of the game, and competence in the basic skills necessary to all who play the sport. Each team member also has a specific skill or strength that is uniquely developed for playing a particular role in team victories. For example, every basketball player must know the current league rules, and also how to run, dribble, pass and shoot. Some players will develop their particular skills and, while competent in all of these basics, will excel in defense, or an inside game, or three-point shooting, or directing an offense.
So too, the Consecrated Deacon is an important member of a larger team – the local church. Every deacon must stand upon a solid Christian Foundation. This means: be in good mental, physical and spiritual shape (Spiritual formation and character development); understand and articulate core Biblical and theological foundations of the Christian faith well enough to teach other Christians (discipling/mentoring) or to share the faith with the unconvinced (evangelism); and to demonstrate understanding and commitment to their ‘team’ – the Free Methodist Church (history and polity of the FMC). These four domains of growth form the foundation of the path toward Consecrated Deacon. Each Deacon must demonstrate competence and growth in Spiritual formation, basic Biblical and theological literacy, basic evangelism and discipleship skills and basic understanding of Free Methodist DNA, and the constitution which guides all of our churches.
The first aspect, therefore, of developing the Deacon is training in these four foundations. The second aspect of developing the Deacon is training and exposure to material and experiences that will develop the candidate’s the particular gifts and calling for ministry. This training may require access to materials and expertise that are not located within the local congregation. Partnering outside of the church or denomination to secure particular training in areas of particular calling, such as counseling, technology, leadership is encouraged when this will be the best option to help a candidate go their ‘next level’ of development and growth.
So then, the two aspects of Developing Deacons are Christian Foundations and Ministry Specifics.
Growth in the Fundamental Christian Foundations is generally well guided by your church’s pastor, or a designated mentor or team of mentors. The readings and practical assignments may be modified from time to time to suit the local church’s particular mission and the pastor’s particular strengths.
Growth in the Ministry Specifics may require readings and practical assignments that are well outside of the current pastor or church’s areas of comfort or strength. For example, a deacon may be called to specialize in communications technology in a church that has yet to develop a web-page. It is entirely possible that area of expertise is already well developed by the potential deacon, and this is a new area of ministry being brought to the church by that individual. It is possible that this calling is clear, and the church’s need is evident, but there is not a pool of expertize in the local church to produce growth for the deacon. In this case, it is highly recommended that the deacon and pastor look beyond their congregation to the broader conference or local community, broader denomination or institutions of higher education, etc., in order to develop a plan that will stretch and grow the person called and provide for an experience that will benefit both the deacon and the church.
What follows is the “Deacon Development Path” which is meant to give structure and form to the process of development. It is not a process cast in iron. If there are resources the pastor and deacon believe will produce better results, you are free to explore them. You are not free, however, to ignore any of the areas of development. If the deacon already feels and/or exhibits competence in a particular area of development, then do not rush to simply check this off the list. Ask instead, what can be done to deepen, stretch, and build upon the current level of competency for the sake of the bringing ever increasing excellence to fulfill the call of Christ.
Deacon Development Path
DiscernMeet with Pastor
Deacon maturity scale
DevelopCreate mutually agreed upon plan to accomplish:
Christian foundations readings and assignments
Ministry particulars development readings and assignments
DoComplete assigned activities for development
Minister according to call for at least three fruitful months
Show growth in Deacon maturity scale to score of 8 or better.
Receive approval for Consecration from pastor and BOA
Basic Deacon Development Structure
A suggested reading list with activities are found in the Appendix and updated online at alexfirstfmc.org.
Developing the Christian Foundations and Ministry Specifics
Every Consecrated Deacon must be well-versed in the Christian Foundations as a leader in the church. Whether coordinating a Sunday School program, overseeing Building and Grounds, developing the church’s web presence or visiting the elderly in the community, being a solid and growing disciple of Jesus who can bear witness to God’s salvation and invite others to faith, and understand the nature and structures of the church are essential. These are the fundamental skills of the game that each fruitful team member must know to compete with excellence. These have already been explained in this manual.
Deacons are usually called to fulfill a specific ministry. The development of this specific ministry will be as unique as the specific calling. You are asked to read and grow intellectually in your specific calling, and to engage in practical experiences that will develop this call into a true ministry strength. The expectation is that in all matters of our Christian walk we are lifelong learners. Those set aside to provide particular example and leadership in the church should seek to excel in their particular calling. The following are common particular ministries:
Administration/Leadership
Caregiving/Visitation
Christian Education (sometimes a particular age group)
Technology/Communications
Worship/Music
Spiritual Formation/Small Groups
Evangelism/Outreach
Counseling/Spiritual Directing
Creative Arts
When you identify a core area for development, the basic suggested activity for each area is simple. Interview and/or shadow at least three people/groups in your area that are doing well what you hope to do in your church. At least one of these must be from a healthy congregation that is outside of your own. There may be a workshop or webinar on your particular area of calling that you and/or your pastor believe would benefit you. You must develop a written plan to carry out your particular calling in the church, with the consult of your pastor to ensure a good fit with the church’s vision, strategic plan, budget, etc. You must live out your calling in a practical way for at least three months, with your pastor or designee’s direct supervision and development. For example, you may lead worship in church or in a nursing home, develop a rotation of visiting shut-ins, lead a small group ministry, develop and operate a church blog site or twitter feed. Whatever your calling is, the purpose of the Deaconate is to identify and deploy healthy, biblical, spirit-filled servants of God who intentionally serve and build up the church in practical ways.
You and your pastor are free to explore any resources that lead you to grow to your next level of competence and depth in your particular area of calling.
Please note that in no way should you view reading books or going through the experiences required of a Consecrated Deacon as a path to becoming a licensed counselor, chaplain or practitioner in any field that requires local, state or federal accreditation. You may pursue such accreditation, of course, and are encouraged to do whatever is necessary to fulfill your call in the cause of Christ’s kingdom. Also note that these experiences are reflective of a healthy lay development process but do not fulfill any requirements for ordained ministry. If you believe you are called to the path of ordained ministry, the path of an itinerant elder, you should speak with your pastor about this possibility.
Appendices
Application for Consecrated Deacon
Divorce Clearance Forms
Deacon maturity scale
Recommended Reading Lists (updated regularly at alexfirstfmc.org, linked at nccfmc.org)
Deacon License
PersonalInformationand
ApplicationforConsecratedDeacon