Dear BPCWA worshipper, Last week, we saw how different churches may run the church differently based upon their doctrines and denomination. A lack of understanding and unity on church polity can lead to many problems in the church. We are a Presbyterian church and must maintain a Presbyterian church polity, one ruled by the teaching elder (known as the pastor) who preaches and oversees the church together with lay ruling elders.

The Deacon’s role is not to preach. To understand the role of deacons, we must go back to the reason why the office of deacons was established. In Acts 6:1-4, deacons were to “serve tables” so that the Apostles (the teaching elders) could give themselves to “prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Though other denominations may have a different concept about deacons and hence result in different practices, deacons in a Presbyterian church are servants. Given the reason why deacons were appointed in the first place in the Scriptures, the Westminster Directory for Church Government biblically asserts that deacons are “not to preach the Word”. Hence, deacons should not be expected or called upon to preach from the pulpit in a Presbyterian church. If, as the Congregationalists (eg Baptists and Brethren churches) assert that the “work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined” to the pastor, and that others “may and ought to perform it” then the Apostles would have set deacons for the purpose of preaching rather than say “. . . look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3,4). The deacon’s “business” is serving, not preaching, even if they were full of the Holy Ghost. If we are not clear about this biblical concept, deacons and ex-deacons can be upset that they are not given “preaching opportunities”, causing unhappiness in themselves and the church.

The Deacon’s role is to serve, not rule. Since deacons are servants, the Session, being made up of deacons in BPCWA, does not rule the church. Their role of service is important for helping the church execute plans and activities effectively. Deacons were a great help to the elders in the New Testament church as they fulfilled their specific roles. So, a deacon is not just a mere supervisor who tells others to work. Those who wish to be deacons must be ready to do hands-on work and think through their assigned areas of service, and do more than they are currently doing as a lay person. I hope it is clear in all worshippers’ minds that deacons do not decide on doctrines, directions, or how to rule the church, and they must not be seen to be people “in power”. Deacons must be spiritual individuals, but that does not mean that their appointment makes them spiritual leaders.  God has his polity for His church. We must not carry the Congregationalist concepts of deacons into our Presbyterian church.  Instead, as consistent with Presbyterian polity, the church is ruled only by the elders (namely the Board of Elders).

Elections. In Acts 6:3, it was the Apostles (who were also the elders of the church), not the people, who “appointed” deacons, and even decided how many were required, “. . . look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business”.  I hope that everyone in the church understands that this is consistent with the Presbyterian practice. So, when the Board of Elders turns down someone from being selected for appointment, we all realise that this practice, as directed in the Westminster Directory, is consistent with the Scriptures.  We must not see it as something conceived to “retain power” within a select few. Remember that there’re more requirements to being a deacon than serving a lot, being very active, well-liked, or willing to serve. There are biblical criteria for the assessments of whether he can lead his family (including his wife), spirituality, soundness of Biblical convictions, and proven abilities to serve effectively. Since the leaders of the church see more facets of an individual’s character and service, there may be times that some individuals, though considered, are not suitable to be put up for election. This accounts for why not every individual that a member nominates is indeed suitable to be put up for election. Furthermore, having understood our church polity, we must remember that even when a member nominates a deacon for election, he is only nominating a servant to be loaded with more things to do, not a “parliamentary” voice or representative, and definitely not to put someone into decision-making power.

Carefulness in elections. When we elect an elder, we should also base it upon his biblical qualifications and the demonstrated gifts for that role as a teaching or lay elder. Even at a time wherein we may need to seek a pastor for BPCWA, we must only elect a man who is fully trained in and who is of genuine Bible-Presbyterian convictions through and through. Anyone who is merely “willing” or “agrees” to preach according to our doctrines is just being a hireling and shows himself not to be a man of conviction. Such a one will eventually change the church in time because his true beliefs will inevitably surface in time. Likewise, there must be no shadow of doubt of an elder in all the tenets of the Bible-Presbyterian faith and practices. The church offices of elders and deacons are not for the sake of “recognising or rewarding one’s service” or just “it is time to promote them”. Also, we should never have elders and deacons just simply for the sake of swelling up numbers to look good or to compare one group against one another. Instead, we should have more elders and deacons only if there are eligible and biblically qualified ones to fill those roles. God will grant the grace till he raises the right persons. Fearing and succumbing to pressure and hence skipping some qualifications, and replacing them with our own ideas due to exigencies will certainly cause future problems. Disobeying God never ends well.  Every member is accountable, and should objectively elect based upon the individual’s suitability, based upon 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, for that particular office in BPCWA, not simply because you think you should support your long-time good friend.

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor