Deacons
Pictured below are the Deacons of Richland Creek with their wives.
Office of Deacon Information & FAQ
The office of deacon is the second ministerial office mentioned in Scripture, after the office of pastor. In the New Testament, a deacon was a servant-leader charged with giving care to those in need, freeing the pastors from direct oversight of ministries in order that they might be freed up to teach, pray, and lead. Deacons at Richland Creek have fulfilled and will continue to fulfill the same role of assisting the pastors and serving in caregiving for our church.
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the deacon ministry.
What are the responsibilities and expectations of a deacon?
Responsibilities include:
• Promoting unity within the church body
• Supporting the pastors and staff
• Modeling the behavior of what it means to be a faithful member of Richland Creek
• Demonstrating a consistent commitment to stewardship
• Caring for church members and others in the community
• Encouraging and strengthening new converts and the spiritually weak
• Ministering the gospel to believers and unbelievers
• Modeling the behavior of Christ to the world outside of Richland Creek – to family, to business, and to the community
Expectations include:
• Attend weekly worship service
• Be an active member of a Life Group
• Be actively engaged in other church activities (e.g., Vacation Bible School, prayer meetings, conferences)
• Participate in a Deacon Care Group
• Attend deacon meetings
• Participate in church family meetings
• Regularly serve In one or more Deacon Service Groups
Does a deacon have to be a church member?
Yes, the Richland Creek constitution and by-laws require that deacons be current members of the church.
Can a woman be a deacon?
Currently, our constitution and by-laws restrict the office of deacon to qualified men.
How long do deacons serve?
A deacon shall remain in active status as long as the deacon annually indicates a desire and commitment to serve, is a member in good standing, regularly attends the monthly deacons' meetings, and participates in the ministries of the deacon body.
What was the process for selecting the deacon nominees?
A Deacon Selection Team received nominations from church members, after which all nominees were evaluated by current deacons and the Pastoral Body for eligibility to serve. Those eligible to serve were asked to review the qualifications and expectations of a deacon and complete an application.
The remaining nominees who complete the application were interviewed by pastors and/or deacons. After interviews, the final candidates are being presented to the church body for a vote by church members. New deacons will then be ordained (if necessary) and installed into the deacon body.