C. Deacons

There shall be a rotating Diaconate. The members of the rotating Diaconate shall each be elected for a term of three years with one-third of the number being elected each year. After serving a term of three years, the Deacon must rotate off the Diaconate for one year. Persons may be considered for immediate re-election to the Diaconate in the even the Nominating Committee cannot find a sufficient number of qualified people who agree to serve as Deacon. The church, in business conference, may provide a case by case waiver to the one year break schedule. If a vacancy occurs among the Deacons, that position shall be filled for the remainder of that term by the same means regular Deacons are elected. A Deacon so elected shall be eligible for the next full term provided that he/she has served no more than one of the three-year term.

Voting on the election of Deacons shall take place on the first Wednesday in October at a special called church business meeting. Newly elected deacons shall take office the first day of January each year and shall be invited to any meetings of the Diaconate that are held after their election and prior to their taking office, and they will be eligible to vote for Diaconate officers for the coming year, together with incumbent deacons.

In the first week of October of each year, the chairperson of the Diaconate shall appoint a nominating committee whose purpose shall be to provide a slate of candidates for the office of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary of the Diaconate for the coming year. The incumbent officers of the diaconate shall not serve on this committee nor will they have any input into the committee. This slate of officers will be presented to the incumbent and incoming deacons at their December meeting. The incumbent and incoming deacons will elect officers, these elected officers will begin their duties on January 1 of the next year.

The church Nominating Committee shall nominate the Deacons. Nominees shall be chosen from among those members of the church who have proved themselves to have scriptural qualifications (Acts 6:1-8 and I Timothy 3:8-13.) Proof of scriptural qualifications will be based on their Christian service ministry, outreach and/or other spiritual involvement in this church.

Nominees shall be interviewed by the pastor and/or the Chairperson of the Deacons as to their faith and practice and their willingness to serve if elected. No person being considered to serve as a Deacon shall be presented to the church for election without having carefully read all of the constitutional and scriptural requirements specified for the Deacons. The potential candidate must agree to support and unhesitant discharge all Deacon responsibilities specified therein. Otherwise, he/she should decline to be nominated to the church as a Deacon candidate.

Nominees shall be presented to the church family at least two weeks (14 days) prior to election which will take place the first Wednesday in October. Any additional nominees by members of the church family must be submitted in writing to the pastor or chairperson of the Deacons at least one week (7 days) prior to balloting. Those who have not previously been ordained shall be ordained by the church.

Deacons shall at all times consider themselves as servants of the church. With the pastor, and as the Holy Spirit may direct, they are to consider and make recommendations to the church in all spiritual matters pertaining to its work and progress. They are to oversee the discipline of the laity in the church and establish and maintain spiritual and fraternal relations with all members of the church.

The Deacons shall be leaders of and personally involved in evangelism and church outreach. They shall also be leaders as church wide peacemakers and problem solvers of spiritual matters. They are to be aware of all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the church – its peace and harmony, its fellowship and good order, its worship and ordinances, its benevolences and ministries, and the financial programs of the church.

The Deacons are responsible for the content and issuance of the Church Covenant and the Articles of Faith, following approval by the church.

Deacons shall assist the pastor in the observance of the ordinances. Deacons shall arrange for regular meetings and such committees as are necessary to the discharge of their duties. The pastor or the chairperson of the deacons may call the deacons into special session whenever the need for such arises.