Proposed By-Law Changes Around Deacons
with Explanations
with Explanations
Updated October 19, 2025.
This may not be the most recent version
This may not be the most recent version
Objectives:
- Remove power from the deacon body that is not given or supported by scripture
- Remove behaviors that are contradictory to scripture
- Bring the pastors into the deacon processes
- Fix errors in the text
Legend:
text that has been removed is stricken through- Text that has been modified is in bold
- Explanation of a suggested change is in italics
ARTICLE II. CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Section 2.01 Church Officers.
E. Deacons.
IV.
Role of Deacons. In keeping with the meaning of the work and practice in the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church. The Deacons are not a governing body, nor or they a powerless entity. Their mission is to serve the Lord by serving the congregation and the pastors in performing the ministerial tasks of:
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V.
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VI.
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This is the duty of every Christian
This is the duty of every Christian
Caring for the church’s members and others in the community by meeting physical needs so the pastors can focus on meeting the spiritual needs of the church and the community.
No mention is made in scripture of a deacon ever exercising counsel or oversight (see definition of “supervise”) of a pastor. Deacons are servants of the church in support of the congregation’s physical needs and the pastors’ need to focus on spiritual matters. The intent of deacons is to take things off of the pastors’ plates so that the pastors can focus on the preaching of the word, prayer, and the over-all spiritual oversight and shepherding of the congregation. (See Acts 6)
The pattern laid out in scripture (see Matthew 18:15-20 for example) is for a Christian individual to go to another individual who has offended or sinned against them and deal with the matter directly. In this section, we have gone around the behavior commanded in scripture in favor of something else. This is a deviation from a command of God.
Participating enthusiastically in the ministries and programs of the church which the individual deacon feels called by God. Deacons are to be ministry minded.
Conducting regular meetings. Such meetings can be called by the pastors or the deacon body and cancelled by a majority vote of the deacon body. The pastors are invited to all the deacon meetings but their attendance is not required.
Given that deacons were initially created at the request of the pastors of the church in Acts 6 to solve an important ministry problem that would have taken time away from the pastors prayer and preaching of the word (spiritual needs of the congregation), the pastors should be able to call a deacon meeting to ask for the deacons to take care of particular needs of the congregation.
Given that deacons were initially created at the request of the pastors of the church in Acts 6 to solve an important ministry problem that would have taken time away from the pastors prayer and preaching of the word (spiritual needs of the congregation), the pastors should be able to call a deacon meeting to ask for the deacons to take care of particular needs of the congregation.
Qualifications of Deacons. The members of First Baptist Church Hondo, in light of interpretation of in submission to scripture, establish the following qualifications for deacons:
This is a prerequisite for church membership which is a prerequisite for being a deacon
A deacon must be proven in the work of First Baptist Church Hondo for at least one year. He must be supportive of support its programs and give strength to its fellowship. See 1 Timothy 3:10; Acts 2:42; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:25; Ephesians 4:12-13.
A deacon is not called to be supportive of, but to support the congregation. Deacons are expected to do the work of ministry, not just be supportive of that work. A spectator cheering on their team from the stands is supportive of their team. A player on the field is supporting the team. A groundskeeper maintaining the field is supporting the team.
A deacon is not called to be supportive of, but to support the congregation. Deacons are expected to do the work of ministry, not just be supportive of that work. A spectator cheering on their team from the stands is supportive of their team. A player on the field is supporting the team. A groundskeeper maintaining the field is supporting the team.
A deacon must have a good reputation in the community and in the church, being generally respected for an ethical and moral life, as defined by scripture. See Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:8.
A deacon must not be given to much wine but must listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit in all Christian freedoms and liberties and must not be a drunkard. See 1 Timothy 3:8; Ephesians 5:18.
A deacon must know and have deep convictions for the truths in scripture. See 1 Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20.
A deacon must believe in the sacredness of the marriage relationship as an institution ordained by God to exist between a man and a woman for life. Divorce is a sin, except in the cases of marital unfaithfulness. Therefore, not all divorces are equal. A deacon who is married must be a faithful husband. There have been many faithful husbands who have been divorced, and, in the context of the New Testament, the church seeks to speak redemptively. Divorce, therefore, is not in and of itself, an automatic disqualification for service as a deacon. See 1 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 5:32.
A deacon must strive to lead his family in a Christ-like manner, setting an example for his household in word and deed. See Ephesians 5:21-6:4; 1 Timothy 3:12-13.
Election and Ordination of Deacons.
The church body shall elect deacons as needed.
When the church decides to elect new deacons, a nominating list shall be formed with the names of every man over the age of 21 who has been a member for at least one year.
Prior to the list being circulated to the church membership, the pastor shall remind the congregation of the biblical teachings on deaconship, and a reasonable period of time shall be set aside to allow such individuals to contact the church office and request the removal of their name from the nominating list.
At a regular or specially called business meeting, church members shall cast a vote for their choice of deacons by ballot. Such vote will be made by circling the names of the individuals up to the number of deacons the church has determined to add.
The deacon body will count the ballots and determine who the church has nominated for deaconship. This list of nominees shall be discussed with the pastors.
The nominees will visit with the pastors and the deacon body. The pastors and Members of the deacons shall go over the church’s qualifications for becoming a deacon and the role of a deacon with the nominees. Any nominees that do not meet the qualifications of being a deacon shall be removed from consideration. Additionally, a nominee will have the opportunity to withdraw his name privately at any time if he feels God leading him to do so. Therefore, not all nominees selected by the congregation may come forth for ordination.
This language has been clarified, and the pastors have been included in the vetting process of the nominees. The pastors should know the members of the church and should be able to voice any concerns over any of the nominees made by the church. Given the pastor’s relationship with the members of the congregation, he may have insight into a member’s character or behavior that would impact the member’s eligibility to be a deacon. Given the sensitive nature of that confidential relationship, the pastor may not share all of the reasons a particular candidate is ineligible with the deacon body or the church.
This language has been clarified, and the pastors have been included in the vetting process of the nominees. The pastors should know the members of the church and should be able to voice any concerns over any of the nominees made by the church. Given the pastor’s relationship with the members of the congregation, he may have insight into a member’s character or behavior that would impact the member’s eligibility to be a deacon. Given the sensitive nature of that confidential relationship, the pastor may not share all of the reasons a particular candidate is ineligible with the deacon body or the church.
The deacon body will present the nominees to the church for ordination at a business meeting to be voted on by the members of the church present at such meeting.
The church will have an ordination service for the newly elected deacons by the laying on of hands.
Those who have been ordained as deacons in other churches must wait at least one year before being eligible to join the deacon body at First Baptist Church Hondo. Any invitation to a deacon ordained by another church shall be at the prayerful discernment of the deacon body who will, in turn, make a recommendation to the church for inclusion into the deacon body at a business meeting to be voted on by the members of the church present at such meeting.
The church body may require a deacon to resign. If the deacon fails to maintain the biblical qualifications or fails in his role, the church may take action to remove a deacon. The same principles and process used to terminate a pastor shall be used to remove a deacon.
Becoming a deacon is not necessarily a lifetime appointment. If at any point in their service a deacon no longer feels the call to be a deacon, cannot fulfill the obligations of being a deacon, or simply doesn’t want to be a deacon anymore, he may remove himself from the deacon body. An announcement will be made at the next business meeting held by the church.