Though all members of the local church are to serve the body, deacons are especially gifted and commissioned to be the hands and feet of the local church. They hold the office of deacon and serve as ministers and servants of the congregation. As such, deacons meet the tangible needs of the church and protect the church’s unity while helping with the more practical matters of church ministry. The biblical qualifications for deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8–13, with passing references to the office in Philippians 1:1 and Romans 16:1. One of the most important passages for understanding the office of deacon comes in Acts 6:1–7, where deacons were appointed to serve tables and care for the needy so that the elders could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. This strategic division of labor is a gift to the church.
Deacons are vital for the health of a church. In an elder-led congregational model, final earthly authority is vested in the congregation, yet leadership is given to the elders. While they do not have the authority or the responsibility to lead as the elders do, deacons have the unique calling to serve the body and unify the congregation under the authority of the elders. Deacons do this by helping facilitate the leadership of the elders to the congregation, which in turn helps the congregation exercise the authority given to them in accordance with the direction given by the elders. This scheme allows the elders to lead and the congregation to exercise authority. Thus, deacons are not merely janitors and groundskeepers; they are vital ministers that facilitate and advance the ministry of the word by helping the elders lead through prayer, preaching, and teaching.
The work of a deacon is no easy task. It requires thankless service and unnoticed sacrifice. Yet that is just the sort of work that the Lord loves to reward in Heaven. Paul assures us that deacons will have their reward in their good standing and great confidence before Jesus Christ (1 Tim 3:13). Deacons will gain the respect of the congregation and will receive increasing boldness. As fellow covenant members, deacons also fulfill the office of membership. In this, they foster communion among the church and help facilitate the member ministry of carrying out the “one another” passages.
