Deacon duties?

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earl40

earl40

Puritan Board Professor
Where is the biblical warrant for deacons to take care of the needy, outside of the context of the congregation? I ask in that of course we all should be looking out for our neighbor, but so far as the office of deacon where is his warrant to officially labor outside the congregation?
 
Is an official warrant needed?

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
 
Members of your home congregation have first priority. For those outside of your congregation professing Christians have priority. Discovering whether they are church members would be a next step. Last would be those who are unbelievers. Any financial deaconal help would have to be examined and approved by session. At least that is the way I have been instructed by my session.
 
jwithnell said:
See Acts 6, in the institution of the office to ensure equitable care of the widows.
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It appears that these widows were part of the church, as per my question, where in scripture is the warrant for deacons to care for those outside the church.
 
timfost said:
Is an official warrant needed?

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
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This is indeed a call for all of us, if so are all deacons?
 
The deacons in Acts were commissioned by the church for the church. The stated reason was for the distribution of the material goods of the church to the widows in need within the church.

Of course a man ordained to the office of deacon may use his own resources to privately help those in need outside the church, but he may not use the church's resources unless directed by the church leaders.
 
Ah, I missed the outside part. Sorry.

You have examples of an outsider, like Ruth, being permitted to glean, and the church through the ages has engaged in benevolence. The context, however, is redemption. That was one of the major differences as the OPC founders refuted the social gospel in missions.
 
earl40 said:
It appears that these widows were part of the church, as per my question, where in scripture is the warrant for deacons to care for those outside the church.
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Well, technically, that wasn't your question. The original question was "outside of the context of the congregation" not "outside the context of the church". Two quite different questions.

"Q: What is the visible church?

A: The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion and their children"
 
Edward said:
Well, technically, that wasn't your question. The original question was "outside of the context of the congregation" not "outside the context of the church". Two quite different questions.

"Q: What is the visible church?

A: The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion and their children"
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The invisible church is found within the visible church as were the widows as "seen" in Acts 6. So we may use church and congregation interchangeably in my opinion.
 
jwithnell said:
Ah, I missed the outside part. Sorry.

You have examples of an outsider, like Ruth, being permitted to glean, and the church through the ages has engaged in benevolence. The context, however, is redemption. That was one of the major differences as the OPC founders refuted the social gospel in missions.
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Were the crops owned by the OT church? Of course I do believe the practice of benevolence by us in the church (or congregation) is commanded.
 
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BGF said:
The deacons in Acts were commissioned by the church for the church. The stated reason was for the distribution of the material goods of the church to the widows in need within the church.

Of course a man ordained to the office of deacon may use his own resources to privately help those in need outside the church, but he may not use the church's resources unless directed by the church leaders.
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At what point is the direction of the leaders to help those outside the church too much? I ask because I know of a church that is heavily in debt because of such endeavors along with other reasons.
 
The church does not need a specific warrant before it may get involved in godly endeavors. If the leadership deems an effort to be a wise use of resources, the church may fund that effort. Of course, a situation like the accumulation of heavy debt sounds like it may be an unwise use of resources in that instance, but this does not mean it is never appropriate for the church to be generous to the poor. Generosity is godly.

Given the general duties and expertise of the deacons, it makes sense for them, rather than the elders, to provide oversight/leadership of such an effort.

And the maintenance of activities more central to the mission of the church, such as the preaching of the Word, always ought to be a priority.
 
Southern Presbyterian said:
Perhaps this specific situation has more to do with the church leadership as a whole being financially responsible than it does with mere diaconal overreach.
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Not in the church I an acquainted with. :) The "outreach" to the community is a huge drain on the financial resources.
 
earl40 said:
Not in the church I an acquainted with. :) The "outreach" to the community is a huge drain on the financial resources.
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You know the situation, I don't. But I still say it's irresponsible of the entirety of their leadership to let one part of their ministry (outreach) drag the entirety of the ministry into financial trouble. The Deacons don't get appointed and then go off and do whatever they want, do they? They are accountable to the rest of the local leadership, or they should be. in my opinion.
 
Southern Presbyterian said:
You know the situation, I don't. But I still say it's irresponsible of the entirety of their leadership to let one part of their ministry (outreach) drag the entirety of the ministry into financial trouble. The Deacons don't get appointed and then go off and do whatever they want, do they? They are accountable to the rest of the local leadership, or they should be. in my opinion.
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Of course I agree. Though in my opinion the Ministry (Capitol M) of the deacons is to be kept inside the local congregation, and as I asked in my OP I have not seen one instance of the duty of the deacons to help those outside the church without accountability to those giving. This I want to add we, as the laity, would be permitted to help our neighbor anytime with the resources we have at our disposal as stewards of God good gifts.
 
In the PCA, the Session approves the budget. So if one has a problem with budget priorities, it should be on the session, not the diaconate.

And if the session is guilty of mishandling the funds, that should be dealt with.

As far as the question of those outside the church as well as outside the congregation, a group of us met with Randy Nabors and another gentleman back in November for a discussion of what that might look like and how it should fit into the broader mission of the church. I recommend Nabor's book https://www.amazon.com/Merciful-Opportunity-Challenge-Discipling-Poverty/dp/1508434522 for those interested in the subject.
 
We have an annual budget meeting where everything is laid out before the congregation. The floor is open for any questions as to how and why our money is being spent the way it is. This would be a good opportunity for anyone in the congregation to ask why the leaders are hurting the church financially in order to serve those outside of it.
 
Ryan&Amber2013 said:
We have an annual budget meeting where everything is laid out before the congregation. The floor is open for any questions as to how and why our money is being spent the way it is. This would be a good opportunity for anyone in the congregation to ask why the leaders are hurting the church financially in order to serve those outside of it.
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One may ask though I suspect the answers may not be to ones liking.
 
The OPC body I am a member of just had our annual budget meeting this past December 17th. The budget is presented in hard copy to the members with the past few years alongside for comparison. It is discussed and voted on for approval.
Our small congregation does not generate a substantial income to afford the body helping folks outside the church on a congregational level, though individuals are certainly free to give as they see fit.
In any case, the deacons, nor the pastor, never have access to the money. Deacons review requests and bring them to the session. The session has the final say and the treasurer and trusties sign the check and disperse the funds.
 
JimmyH said:
The OPC body I am a member of just had our annual budget meeting this past December 17th. The budget is presented in hard copy to the members with the past few years alongside for comparison. It is discussed and voted on for approval.
Our small congregation does not generate a substantial income to afford the body helping folks outside the church on a congregational level, though individuals are certainly free to give as they see fit.
In any case, the deacons, nor the pastor, never have access to the money. Deacons review requests and bring them to the session. The session has the final say and the treasurer and trusties sign the check and disperse the funds.
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Jimmy,
I think you will make a fine Deacon! You exercise wisdom, are temperate, and are compassionate....all good things for that office. May your congregation be blessed by your service to them and to God.
 
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