• Home
• News & Events
  • News Articles
  • Printable Calendar
  • Planning Calendar
• Who We Are
  • About Us
  • Welcome
  • Our Facilities
  • Church History
  • Our Logo
  • Our Vision
  • What We Believe
  • How to Join
  • Events Calendar
  • Pastors
  • Deacons
  • Elders
  • Staff
  • Members
  • Newest Members
  • Photo Galleries
    • Easter 2008
      • Easter 2008
    • All Church Fellowship
      • Fall Festival - Oct 2008
      • WORD on the Canal
    • Missions
      • American Native Missions
    • Facilities
      • Reid Memorial Virtual Tour
• Worship
  • Scheduled Services
  • Sunday School
  • Baptism
  • Communion
  • Special Services
  • Weddings
• Ministries
  • Deacons
  • Youth
  • Youth Website
  • Adults
  • Men
  • Women
  • Music
  • Mother's Day Out
  • Stephen Ministry
  • Vacation Bible School
• Missions
  • Time & Talent
  • Local Missions
  • Global Missions
  • Our Missionaries
• Resources
  • Weekly Bulletin
  • Newsletter Online
  • Document Center
  • Become a Member
  • Prayer Requests
  • Volunteering
  • Employment at RMC
  • Educational Links
  • Session Minutes
• Contact
  • Contact Us
  • Driving Directions
• Quicklinks
  • Welcome Visitors
  • Worship Schedule
  • Map & Directions
  • Church Calendar
  • Pastors & Staff
  • Youth Website
  • Bible Search
  • Church Directory
  • Daily Lectionary

Deacons

The mission of the Deacons in Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church is to "help make Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church as warm, loving, and caring a congregation as possible."

As stated in the Book of Order, "The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgement should be chosen for this office. It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, the friendless and to any who may be in distress. They shall assume such other duties as may be delegated to them from time to time by the session." (BO B-6.0401-2)

 

Specific Ministries of the Board of Deacons

Consistent with their overall mission, the Deacons will lead the congregation in personal, one-on-one ministries such as the following:

 

• Contact with shut ins (including the coordination of transportation for shut ins to worship services)
• Contact with people in the hospital
• Contact with people with long term illnesses and special needs
• Contact with the bereaved (including the coordination of funeral receptions and meals)
• Contact with members who seem to be becoming inactive
• Contact with all members, beginning with the new members, regarding their relationship with the church and how they can best be of service to the Lord through the church.
  
   

It must be emphasized that the Deacons shall not assume all of the responsibility for these caring ministries themselves, for the full responsibility for such ministries clearly belongs to the congregation. The Deacons will lead the congregation in providing these caring ministries.

 

Deacon Meetings

To help the Deacons focus on their visitation of people between meetings, their monthly meetings will normally not exceed an hour. Reports and committee procedure will be kept to an absolute minimum. Meetings will consist primarily of Bible study, training, and prayer. The hope is that these meetings will become so rewarding and personally satisfying for the Deacons in their individual Christian lives, that many members of the church will want to be elected as a Deacon just to become a part of them.

 

Desired Qualities in Deacons

• Love of people and joy in being around people.
• Sense of humor
• Compassionate and caring
• Good communicator
• Good listener
• Mature Christian faith
• A deep desire that our church be a place where everyone who enters the door feels welcome.
  
   

Balance of Genders

It is very important that the Deacons have an equal representation of men and women. It should not be assumed that only women can do caring ministries and that they alone should be responsible for caring ministries. Many men have effective people skills. It is essential that Reid call such men to leadership in the Deacons if the Deacons are going to effectively lead the entire congregation (men as well as women) in their mission.