Constitutional Change Proposed

An explanation of the constitutional change to include care deaconesses as well as care deacons:
1. We understand there are two main offices in the church in a general way (I Tim)—A. elders, who have oversight and B. deacons or “ministers or servants” who have service responsibilities in any area. This seems to be the way it was in the local church at the beginning. And so we understand that every person who has a titled position of responsibility in the church is in that sense a deacon or a deaconesses. Early ones waited on tables (Acts 6).

2. The fact that we have called one board Care Deacons probably confuses that issue (#1). And the fact that we elect or select only Trustees and Care Deacons confuses the issue, but the confusion is surmountable! So we have used men and women for all kinds of titled leadership or servanthood in the church—teaching Sunday school, ushering, serving on strong committees, visitation, and many other areas.

3. Nevertheless we have through the years, by constitution, elected or selected Care Deacons “to help with ordinances and visitation and care for the needy.” This includes serving by preparing communion elements and preparing people for baptism also. We have continued doing these by election and many of the others by appointment, just to abide by that tradition.

4. We have understood that the elders of our church are the Pastors for our ministry and the Trustees for finances and future vision. Therefore these, because of our understanding, are men (I Tim 3).

5. In recent years we have had many women helping with the Care Deacon work—preparing people for baptism, preparing communion, visiting shut-ins, helping in the hospitals. Obviously we have wanted this and it has been crucial and so helpful! In many cases they really have done the work of the Care Deacons and shared this way, and all on the care deacon board are appreciative. This why we wanted to honor the women who do this. That is the reason for the proposed constitutional change.

Because we have had the question, may we state some things this is not:
A. Not a change in practice. Women have been serving this way.
B. Not a step toward ordination of women. While our church differs with many good Christians on this, we do believe ordination and spiritual leadership of the church should be by men.
C. Not anything different from our practice, as noted above.

But it is still a constitutional change, and thus the need for this procedure. Thank you for understanding!

Proposed Constitutional Change
Pastoral leadership and trustees propose that we honor the ministry of women who have been serving and will serve in the Care Deacon ministries of pastoral care for hospitalized and shut-ins and in helping with baptism and communion.

We want to do this by electing or calling not only trustees and care deacons, but also women as care deaconesses. It is to add care deaconesses to the board or ministry of care deacons, to honor not only the ones that are serving now in some of the same ways but to have women on the ballot each January to call or elect or ratify to this position.

Article VI, preface
It now reads: These shall be comprised of men “who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3; I Tim 3; Rom 16:1).

Change: These shall be comprised of those “who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3; I Tim 3; Rom 16:1). Pastors, Trustees, and the Chair and Vice Chair of Care Deacons shall be men, since they serve in an elder role.

Article VI, Section 3
It now reads: Care Deacons

Change: Care Deacons/Deaconesses