"Who today is the focus of [the deacons'] task? Our church order and ordination form emphasize the necessity of addressing widening circles of need that center in the congregation. Is this a good distinction for us to be making? Do we run the risk of ignoring greater needs because we see only immediate ones? Are we being visionary enough about our 'parish'? What role does development play in the task of the deacon as opposed to charity? How do we define 'poor' in our contemporary context? What is the relationship between diakonia and evangelism?"
These are some of the questions posed by Pastor Thea Leunk in her paper on Calvin's teachings and practice regarding deacons compared and contrasted to ours. This paper is not publicly available, BUT it is part of the background material being studied by the Task Force on the Office of Deacon. This task force has begun its work, as we noted some time ago.
You will be hearing from the task force soon in the form of a questionnaire! Stay tuned for more information on how to get involved. The wisdom and the stories and the questions of the deacons of the CRC need to be harvested, and I urge you to stay tuned here for more information on how you can participate -coming soon!
It's no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us! -- this is a verse that ought to give Easter shape to the work of the deacon! Let's pray that the task force is filled with that Easter Spirit!
Let's Discuss
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