Deacons’ roles

The use of the term deacon “board” tends to lead one to add credibility to the term. Somewhere throughout Southern Baptist history, we have allowed that term to become steadfast in our churches. Just as a “board of directors” controls business of a firm, so the “board of deacons” tends to lead many to believe that the deacons of the church control the “business of the church.” Nothing is further from the truth.

When the original deacons were called, they were called to tend to “this” business — “this” business meaning the caring for widows and orphans of the fellowship and community. As a young deacon, I sat silently at times as I yielded to the “mature” older deacons from whom surely I would learn much. From many I did, but from others I saw the division that power-desiring men could cause — power that they felt was theirs because they were on the “board of deacons.” I pray that we, as Christians, remove that term and thinking from our minds and hearts and be about the “business” which God has called us to be doing. Then, we truly would be seen as supports for our pastors and our respective churches.

Jay Hall
Trussville, Ala.