deacons

The role of a Deacon, diakonos, could be defined as one who humbly provides for the needs of others through their deeds. Through a comparison of Paul’s requirements for overseers and deacons in 1 Timothy 3, we can conclude that the main role of a deacon is to “provide logistical and material support so that the elders can focus on the Word of God and prayer.” Deacons are not given the responsibility of authoritative oversight. While “providing logistical and material support” may encompass many different types of work, the work of a Deacon is generally connected to anything that serves and assists the church in ministry that is not reserved for the office of elder/overseer. Deacons will be under the authority of the elders to help them carry out the responsibilities of church leadership. The specific responsibilities will be defined for each person based on their area of service within the church.