THE BOARD OF DEACONS AND DEACONESSES (DIACONATE)Policy.12

University Reformed Church

East Lansing, Michigan

Adopted June, 1981

Revised December, 1982,

May, 1988,

August, 1993

The gifts of service and helps which are at the heart of the deacons' responsibilities as a deacon are gifts which are given to men and women, and can be exercised by men and women. By an historical accident, in the Dutch Reformed Church in America, but contrary to the practice in the Netherlands, deacons were included on the consistory in the first churches, because the congregations were small. When the denomination became independent of the Netherlands, in 1793, the practice was continued of including deacons on the consistory. This means that deacons in the Reformed Church exercise a governing or ruling function by virtue of the responsibilities which they have as consistory members. In other churches of the Reformed tradition (i.e., all Presbyterian churches and others) deacons tend not to be found included in the governing body, but to have the particular responsibility of the ministry of mercy and care for those in need.

Because deacons in the RCA do exercise a ruling/governing function, there are women in our congregation who would not feel free to serve as deacons on the consistory, but who may have the gifts to serve as deaconesses, without the consistory function. Therefore, the consistory in the spring of 1981, sought congregational response to the proposal and then decided to establish a Board of Deacons and Deaconesses.

There are 4 deaconesses, who must be members of the University Reformed Church, and they are nominated and elected in the same manner as Deacons (through a nominating committee, meeting the requirements for a nominating committee as specified in the congregation's by-laws, plus the confirmation of the consistory, and election at a congregational meeting in November). Their appointments are for three-year terms, with staggered terms so that at least one person is elected each year.

The function of the deaconesses is to participate as members of the Board of Deacons and Deaconesses. This Board has the responsibilities of formulating the Mission Support budget, dispersing funds in the Diaconate Fund, remaining alert to situations where there is material need, and determining what particular ministries in the community, church and the world should be brought to the attention of our congregation and receive our support.

Spiritual gifts needed -- We pray that God will raise up women as deaconesses who have gifts of service, mercy, and helps. Deaconesses may also be those who become especially aware of the needs of:

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1. New mothers

2. Newly married women

3. Women coping with the loss of family members

4. Wives of foreign students in the congregation

5. Women who are sick

6. Women who need special assistance with family problems

7. Women who wish to obtain counseling for special needs

8. Women with financial needs

Ordination to the office of Deaconess by the Laying on of Hands. Ordination is a special setting apart of individuals called to a particular ministry. The term is not used by some Christian groups, but is generally understood to apply to those who have special ministries. The setting apart of individuals for offices by the laying on of hands is a meaningful, though not strictly essential part of ordination. Among Christian groups the number of ministries for which ordination is practiced varies. The number of "offices: also varies among Christian groups. The Reformed Church in America has an office of "Professor of Theology", which is not present in other Reformed denominations. Some Christian groups have the office of Deacon, but not of Elder.

Our intention is to establish a fourth office for the University Reformed Church, that of Deaconess, with those so elected asked to respond affirmatively to the same vows which are used at the ordination of Deacons.

For the ordination of Deaconesses the present and past Deacons and Deaconesses and the Pastor, representing those who serve or have served on the Diaconate, will be invited to join in the laying on of hands. When Deacons are ordained, the present and past Elders, who serve with Deacons on the consistory, and the present and past Deaconesses join in laying on hands.

Meetings: The Board of Deacons and Deaconesses meets at least every other month. The Board of Deacons and Deaconesses elects one of its members as the chairperson each year.

Special Notes: In taking this action, the consistory did so with the following understandings:

1.This step was authorized with the expectation that God would lead us to particular women gifted by the Holy Spirit for a particular ministry in our congregation.

2.These actions and this job description for a Board of Deacons and Deaconesses were understood to represent a valid expression of the Scriptural teaching on the exercise of gifts in the Body of Christ.

3.The consistory understood that this proposal did not involve the deaconesses in exercising a teaching/ruling function in our congregation.

4.While the Board of Deacons is constitutionally empowered by the Book of Church Order of the RCA to hold separate meetings, the Board of Deacons did not expect to do so once the Board of Deacons and Deaconesses was in operation.

5.In order to strengthen the Consistory's awareness of the ministry of the Diaconate and of the needs of the congregation the Consistory invites the Deaconesses to advise and assist the Consistory by attending Consistory meetings. This is an invitation, and not a requirement for the Deaconesses. We are sensitive to possible constraints which individual Deaconesses may feel: 1) Those who believe that the Scriptures indicate that only men are to carry out the governing roles in a congregation may feel that such attendance at Consistory meetings comes too close to undermining what they believe is a Scriptural principle. 2) Those who very much wish for women to be elected as Deacons and Elders may feel that, to the extent that they attend Consistory meetings, they may impede the election of women as Elders and Deacons. 3) Some may feel a strong sense of calling to a diaconal ministry, but are not attracted to the areas of ministry which the Consistory handles or cannot add the commitment of time. If any Deaconesses feel they cannot attend any Consistory meetings, or can only attend selectively, the Consistory respects their decisions, recognizing their priority calling is to the work of the Diaconate.

In inviting the Deaconesses to advise and assist the Consistory by attending Consistory meetings, though without a vote, the Consistory is inviting active participation by the Deaconesses. Many of the decisions of the Consistory are made by consensus. Nevertheless, it would remain the right of a Consistory member to require that the support of an actual majority of the Consistory be verified, before an action is entered in the minutes. There may also be legal or technical occasions where it will be necessary to record that a clear majority of the Consistory was obtained.