Deacons as agents of transformation in church and society! This overture to Synod continues an excellent dialog!
The overture from Classis Grandville is asking Synod to create a task force to look hard at the ways the office of deacon could be made stronger and more strategic for congregational ministry. The Classis is asking that the task force rewrite the articles of the church order in ways that would allow churches and classes to restructure diaconal ministry in ways that could:
better engage with the community
better match gifts and roles
offer more leadership in the congregation
allow for more continuity of tenure
open possibilities for deacons to be seated at major assemblies.
You can read it yourself in the Agenda for Synod 2010, page 680 or thereabouts.
