Deacons

[rlvaughn]

No doubt they can, for many churches do it. I assume that if they are ordained they are always considered deacons from that point forward, but while they are on rotation they are not serving as deacons. Should they would be a different question. I don't sense in the NT this to be an office that was rotated in and out of , but I suppose it would not be different from calling a pastor for a certain period of time, and then after that time electing someone else.

 

[Rob_BW]

Good point, off rotation does not equal no longer ordained. You just have fewer obligations for a season.

A sabbath, perhaps.

 

[Pastor Sam]

Our church constitution states that a deacon has to roll off after three years. They have to be off for at least one year before they can be voted back on. I remember discussing this with our deacon board many years ago but didn't have it becasue at the time, we really didn't have qualified men to replace the one(s) rolling off. Now we do.
What are your thoughts on this? Advantage/disadvantage?
Anything else?
Thanks,
Joe

Not all but some Deacons who get in the postion and never leave it get too much power and they think that they are the Pastor's boss. Roll them off every three years and require they stay off for a full year.

 

[Pastor Sam]

In the area and among the churches I was raised, deacons were typically chosen for life, and it is an ordained office. I am aware of some large churches that elected churches annually, and I don't think they ordained them (if I am remembering correctly).

The advantages seems to be someone looking at this as a practical matter -- perhaps (1) to spread the work around, and (2) to keep some from establishing too much power. The disadvantages seems to be that it is devised for practical purposes without scriptural reasoning (although perhaps you have it in the constitution and just didn't mention it)

If they are ordain are they a Rev too.

 

[rlvaughn]

No one is a "Rev" based on ordination. A person is a "Rev" based on someone calling him by that title. I've never heard anyone call a deacon "Rev," but there's always a first time for everything.

 

[Pastor Sam]

Good point, off rotation does not equal no longer ordained. You just have fewer obligations for a season.

A sabbath, perhaps.

Lol

 

[TCassidy]

No one is a "Rev" based on ordination. A person is a "Rev" based on someone calling him by that title.

In my experience a man is called "Reverend" when he is an ordained minister but no longer a Pastor, a Professor, and without a terminal degree.

I, being retired, am no longer a pastor or professor and thus no longer entitled to be called by that nomenclature.

I have a terminal degree so many people call me "Dr. Cassidy" (which I eschew, preferring to be called "Tom" - which then morphed into "Dr. Tom" - sigh, what are we going to do!).

But without the terminal degree, what term would recognize my status as an ordained minister of God and still maintain the distinction that would not be apparent with calling me "brother?"

I think all of this is a matter of personal preference. I don't like being called "Reverend" but certainly would not castigate a person for using that term in reference to me.

In necessariis unitas, in non-necessariis libertas, in omnibus caritas. (In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.) (Usually, but probably incorrectly, attributed to Augustine.)

 

[rlvaughn]

In my experience a man is called "Reverend" when he is an ordained minister but no longer a Pastor, a Professor, and without a terminal degree.

This seems to vary some based on location, age of the speaker, and even ethnicity (for example, in our area, the use of "Rev" and "Reverend" is more common in predominantly black churches than it is in predominantly white churches).

But without the terminal degree, what term would recognize my status as an ordained minister of God and still maintain the distinction that would not be apparent with calling me "brother?"

We have traditionally preferred "Elder" here (for with or without a terminal degree), but even that I can find varies in records from different periods of time.

I think all of this is a matter of personal preference. I don't like being called "Reverend" but certainly would not castigate a person for using that term in reference to me.

I hardly ever do anything in the way of castigating. If it were common in my church, I would ask that it not be done. Otherwise, I would likely never mention it. Now, if it comes up on Baptist Board, I will take to the discussion like a duck to water!!

 

[Reynolds]

No one is a "Rev" based on ordination. A person is a "Rev" based on someone calling him by that title. I've never heard anyone call a deacon "Rev," but there's always a first time for everything.

You should hang around some black churches in the South. Half the church is "Deacon so and so" or "Deaconess so and so." I asked one of the pastors if every one of his members over 18 was a deacon or deaconess. He laughed and said "Bout half of em, bout half of em." They call each other deacons and deaconess every time they address each other at church. It annoys the fool out of me.

 

[Reynolds]

In my experience a man is called "Reverend" when he is an ordained minister but no longer a Pastor, a Professor, and without a terminal degree.

Around here, no white person is a reverend. All black pastors, evangelists, lay preachers, etc. are Reverends or Revs.
A Dr. Is "Doctor Rev."
I call them all by their first name just to prove a point.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Not all but some Deacons who get in the postion and never leave it get too much power and they think that they are the Pastor's boss.

If deacons have power, then you're elected elders, not deacons. Deacons are servants of the church, not rulers.

 

[elder_jeffery_endicott]

Our deacons are ordained and serve for life unless they resign, change church membership or have to be removed for falling into sinful behavior. We really do not like the term Reverend because the only time it appears in the KJV Bible it is referring to God. We use the term elder. most of our churches elect pastors on yearly basis. although I know of one church in our association that was having a problem and a pastor was appointed by the association. Until the brother passed away the church never had another pastor election. (I think it was 22 years later). Every time some one at the church brought up the idea of a pastor election he said that he was appointed by the association to pastor the church and there would not be an election.

 

[Salty]

Our deacons are ordained and serve for life unless they resign, change church membership or have to be removed for falling into sinful behavior.

I find the interesting that a church would call a pastor who was ordained at another sister church. So would you accept the ordination of a deacon from another church? And would a deacon from your church "keep" his ordination at another sister church?

We really do not like the term Reverend because the only time it appears in the KJV Bible it is referring to God. We use the term elder. most of our churches elect pastors on yearly basis. although I know of

How would your church react if a new pastor preferred / insisted on being refereed to as "Rev"?

most of our churches elect pastors on yearly basis. although I know of

WHY? how can a pastor make plans on a long term basis - besides - you stated that deacons are ordained for life?

one church in our association that was having a problem and a pastor was appointed by the association.

An association has NO business appointing a pastor. Now they might recommend - but should always be approved by the church

 

[elder_jeffery_endicott]

until recently even if a minister had moved to another church the one that ordained him had control over his credentials. a deacon is considered an office of the local church, but if he is visiting another church he is still considered a deacon and is still used in some of the functions of a deacon. we practice anointing the sick with oil (from James chapter 5) and ordained ministers and deacons are the ones who anoint and lay hands on the sick person. A visiting minister or deacon is able to take part. At our communions the deacons prepare the table an usually do the serving of the bread and fruit of the vine. Often in a church does not have any deacons one or more from sister churches are used in this manner. However if he changed membership he would no longer be a deacon, however unless the new church already had the number of deacons allowed (7 based on the book of ACTS) it is very likely that the new church would ordain him as a deacon again. I strongly suspect but do not know for sure that if a new pastor insisted on the title Reverend that he very shortly would not be a pastor anymore. while pastors are usually elected yearly changes are seldom made, for example my pastor spent one year as the assistant pastor and I am thinking 45 years as pastor. And the preachers are also ordained for life (have be taken if falls into bad sinful lifestyle) and their ordaination goes with them. it is just the office of pastor not minister or elder that is elected yearly (usually). And that happened to be a very unusual set of circumstances that had the association appointing the pastor. This was long before my time but from what I was informed, at their pastor election time the association moderator was there (as far as I know just visiting) and there was a huge racket. But the church was in such disorder the the moderator declared ALL of the brothers out of order and asked them to leave the building. Our normal practice is only male members having a vote (based on Paul's instructions for the women to remain silent) with ALL of the male members out of order and the church needing a pastor, the moderator asked the sisters who they wanted as their pastor. They told him who they wanted and the moderator appointed the man as pastor at that church and he held the position without another election until he died 22 years later.

 

[Salty]

...Our normal practice is only male members having a vote (based on Paul's instructions for the women to remain silent) ...

Starting a new thread on this subject?