It seems to me that the NT has a lot to say on the topic of leaders in the local church. This is one of the areas that we most need to develop here at our local fellowship. We are in the process of identifying people that would fit the biblical model for leadership.
Elders seem to be in charge of the more spiritual aspects of the church. Not that they are necessarily the most spiritual people (though it would certainly help), but that they are concerned with the spiritual well-being of the church. Things like prayer, fasting, decision-making in the will of God, spiritual direction, etc are all things that they should be looking at during the average week.
Deacons on the other hand are servant leaders. They are also very spiritual individuals, but they let that play out in acts of service within the local context. We are playing (use that term very loosely of course) with the idea of deacons and deaconesses (yes that's right, we are definitely considering women for this crucial area) for Crossroads. These would be the people that care for the daily needs of the body such as feeding the orphans and widows, taking care of the sick (hospital visitation etc), taking care of the facilities, etc. I know we would all agree that these important areas of ministry should not be neglected and would be better accomplished by those that are not only gifted, but ordained to do them.
So what think ye....who are some people that come to mind when you think of Elder or Deacon/Deaconess in the church?
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ALL I CAN SAY IS THE PART THAT ALWAYS STANDS OUT TO ME IS WHEN YOU SAID
"Deacons on the other hand are servant leaders. They are also very spiritual individuals, but they let that play out in acts of service within the local context"
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANYONE THAT IS CHOSEN TO BE A DOER NOT A DICTATOR. ONE THAT COMES UP WITH IDEAS AND IS THEN WILLING TO SEE THEM THROUGH.(GETS THEIR HANDS DIRTY) NOT EXPECTS OTHERS TO DO IT ALL.OR IS CONVENIENTLY BUSY DOING OTHER THINGS I THINK WE NEED APPROACHABLE PEOPLE ONES THAT RELATE TO THE PEOPLE NOT JUST TO THE PASTOR. WE ARE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHURCH THAT MINISTER TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT ALL ASPECTS OF THOSE WE ARE TRYING TO REACH. SO THAT NO ONE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.
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