interesting conversation. Can we say - all Christian are given gifts for the sake of the Church/Kingdom. But, God also calls certain people into roles (at least 5 of them spelled out in Ephesians 4).
Can we imagine the office of elder being a category that includes pastors and teachers in a congregation?
Can we imagine the office of deacon as a category for ensuring that the roles of apostles, prophets and evangelists are identified in the diaconate?
J. R. Woodward has inspired me to contemplate the importance of these 5 roles
Deacons - Priests or Kings? I have a somewhat different take on this question about deacons that relates more to their ministry roles than their authority. In my experience, a diaconate functions best when different deacons are able to execute all three roles - prophets, priests and kings. In fact, I would go so far as to say that these three roles ought to determine what gifts need to complement the diaconate each time there are elections.
There are times when you need kings - deacons who are strong in administration, care about order, and deliberately chose structures that best serve ministry. There are times when you need prophets - deacons who are able to discern the Spirit's leading and boldly challenge complacency - both within the church and the neighbourhood. And, there are times, when you need priests - not only to build "bridges" between kings and prophets who will often be at loggerheads, but also to model a ministry of mercy and hospitality to those in the church and the community.
Posted in: Imagining a Church Without...
interesting conversation. Can we say - all Christian are given gifts for the sake of the Church/Kingdom. But, God also calls certain people into roles (at least 5 of them spelled out in Ephesians 4).
Can we imagine the office of elder being a category that includes pastors and teachers in a congregation?
Can we imagine the office of deacon as a category for ensuring that the roles of apostles, prophets and evangelists are identified in the diaconate?
J. R. Woodward has inspired me to contemplate the importance of these 5 roles
Posted in: Deacons Stepping Up?
Deacons - Priests or Kings? I have a somewhat different take on this question about deacons that relates more to their ministry roles than their authority. In my experience, a diaconate functions best when different deacons are able to execute all three roles - prophets, priests and kings. In fact, I would go so far as to say that these three roles ought to determine what gifts need to complement the diaconate each time there are elections.
There are times when you need kings - deacons who are strong in administration, care about order, and deliberately chose structures that best serve ministry. There are times when you need prophets - deacons who are able to discern the Spirit's leading and boldly challenge complacency - both within the church and the neighbourhood. And, there are times, when you need priests - not only to build "bridges" between kings and prophets who will often be at loggerheads, but also to model a ministry of mercy and hospitality to those in the church and the community.