Featured Deacons

Our bylaws mimic y'all's. We try to keep a pretty full slate of deacons, since assigned family care is a big focus of ours. We stick with rotating men off, so as to avoid burn out. But still on occasion have trouble finding replacements. We also have a more transient population, so must deal with higher than usual turnover, though oftentimes we have old members come back after a few years away. Still, we seek qualified men only, even if they are sometimes hard to find.

 

Deacons serve one-year terms at our church, following nomination from members and approval by elders to be presented for election by membership at the first (and most comprehensive) of our tri-annual business meetings.. Each year that one is nominated/approved, he is questioned by the elders about a calling and willingness to serve. There's no "term limits", nor onus should a non sin-related life situation cause a man to decline candidacy.

 

My thought is that it is a good practice. How long they serve is not given in scripture but what is is their role. If deacons are acting like church administrators then you have a bigger problem.

 

We have that same policy for the Elders also!

 

pastor is the senor Elder, so life long exemption!

 

Its in the constitution, I was not there when it was made and passed....

 

Are there any scripture requirements as per time limit for any Elder though?

 

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)

 

I think that we do it to keep the leadership fresh, and to also allow for others who are also qualified to lead now!

 

As many posts that I recall where people speak about 1 or 2 families having ironclad control over a church, I reckoned rotating leadership would be favored.

 

Yes, as we have all seen the results of "yes men" on the church board!

 

Our secretary is paid staff, so rotating someone off of their job wouldn't be ideal.

No treasure, just a finance committee. We try to encourage rotation in and out of committee assignments.

 

I'm the original OP but I lost my password and since then had my email changed because it got hacked. But , we ordain our deacons. Can they still be on a 3 year rotation if though they were ordained?
Thanks,
Joe