HDC Overview & Deacon Orientation
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The document discusses the role of deacons in the church today. It references a report that states the church's nature is to be a servant people, not just have deacons, and the calling of deacons is to equip the church to live out its own servant role. A synod vote formed diaconal conferences to foster collaboration among deacons. The Holland Deacons' Conference supports partner congregations and ministries that help improve lives and communities. HDC provides homes and support for people with disabilities.
![The Charge to CRC Deacons from the 2016 Form
To the deacons
I charge you deacons, to inspire faithful ministries of service to one
another, to the larger community, and to the world. Remind us that the
Lord requires us “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with
[our] God” (Mic. 6:8). Teach us to be merciful and to seize new opportunities
to worship God with offerings of wealth, time, and ability. Realize that
benevolence is a quality of our life in Christ and not merely a matter of
financial assistance. Therefore, minister to rich and poor alike, both within
and outside the church. Weigh our opportunities for giving and service and
use the church’s resources discerningly. Be compassionate to those in need
and treat them with dignity and respect; hold in trust all sensitive matters
confided to you. Encourage with words that create hope in hearts and with
deeds that bring joy into lives. Be prophetic critics of the waste, injustice,
and selfishness in our society, and be sensitive counselors to the victims of
such evils. Let your lives be above reproach; live as examples of Christ Jesus;
look to the interests of others. And in all your ministries help us participate
in the renewing of all things even as we anticipate its completion when
God’s kingdom comes.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/hdcdeaconstoday-190718154753/85/HDC-Overview-Deacon-Orientation-17-320.jpg)
HDC Overview & Deacon Orientation
- 1. The Holland Deacons’ Conference & the Role of Deacons Today “… the church does not simply have deacons but is by its very nature and calling a diaconate – that is, a community created by the triune God to be a servant people in the world”. – Diakonia Remixed, 2013 (Access full report @ bit.ly/DiakoniaRemixed) Complete PowerPoint available @ bit.ly/HDCDeacon
- 2. “Diakonia, as the work of service that restores shalom, is not confined to any particular office but belongs to the church as a whole. The calling of deacons is not to perform that service on behalf of the church, but to equip, empower and enable the church to live out its own diaconal calling”. Diakonia Remixed, p. 3
- 3. RCA SYNOD VOTES TO FORM DIACONAL CONFERENCES These will foster collaboration, education, and encouragement among deacons Date Posted: Monday, June 12, 2017 On Monday, June 12, General Synod delegates voted to form diaconal conferences across the RCA (R 17-14). The Task Force on Diaconal Assemblies recommended the formation of these conferences to foster collaboration, education, and encouragement among deacons. Similar conferences already take place in our sister denomination, the Christian Reformed Church in North America. From RCA website @ https://www.rca.org/news/synod-votes-form-diaconal-conferences
- 4. For nearly 40 years, HDC has often been at the forefront of helping improve lives and communities served by roughly 30 partner congregations. Today, among other things, HDC ... ➢ Has formal partnerships with two affiliate ministries it helped start: • Buen Pastor Ministries • Lakeshore Little People’s Place (LLPP) ➢ Supports, educates, and coordinates the work of deacons in and about the work to which they have been called. ➢ Provides a supportive Christian community and five high quality homes—known as Brothers and Sisters Homes—for 30 men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, HDC staff encourage and provide support for engagement in community life, faith formation experiences, employment in the community, and more.
- 5. Click on slide or go to link @ http://bit.ly/MBH-MSH to view this 3 minute video Brothers & Sisters Homes is a ministry of the Holland Deacons’ Conference supporting men and women with Intellectual and Developmental Differences/Disabilities (I/DD).
- 6. HDC’s Foundations & Strategic Framework HDC’s Purpose, Mission, Vision, Values & Goals Our Purpose: The Holland Deacons’ Conference (HDC) exists to encourage, support and equip deacons, church members and partners to collaborate in Christ-like acts of mercy, justice and compassion that transform lives and communities, reflecting and advancing God’s reign. Our Mission: Equipping deacons, church members and partners to participate in God’s work of transforming lives and communities. Our Vision: Transformed Lives and Communities Continued on next slide →
- 7. Our Core Values: Partnership – We are committed to encouraging diaconates, local congregations and community partners to work together combining resources and efforts to more effectively address and support shared diaconal concerns and projects (Acts 4: 32-35). Justice – God calls us to restore and reconcile broken relationships (2 Corinthians 5:16- 19) through the pursuit of justice (Micah 6:8). Compassion – We are motivated by and committed to demonstrating Christ’s compassion for the vulnerable, poor and suffering in our communities and world (1 John 3:16-19). Our Overarching Goals: Engaging Community: HDC will encourage each diaconate and church to join in God’s transforming work in their communities. Equipping Deacons: HDC will serve as a link to available teaching, training, encouragement and partnerships for deacons and diaconal ministries from congregations and communities within Classis Holland. Doing Justice: HDC will equip and encourage deacons and congregations to act on justice issues affecting vulnerable, poor and suffering people in their communities.
- 8. What’s A Deacon to Do? This 13-minute video has deacons from the Reformed Church in America reviewing the RCA’s six areas of diaconal concern.
- 9. For further reflection on each of these areas, go to Devotions for Deacons 2 from Diaconal Ministries Canada Primary Areas of Responsibility for CRC Deacons
- 10. Rethinking Community Engagement: Not “To” or “For” but “With”
- 11. Moving From Doing “For” to Doing “With” by Wendy McCaig, Community Way Click on slide or the following link to view this 10 minute video: bit.ly/DoingwithABCD
- 12. http://bit.ly/ABCD3minutes How Christians and Congregations View and Relate the Community Matters!
- 13. Biblical Pattern Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry (diakonia), for building up the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4 ESV) As Christians in the Reformed tradition, we confess complete subjection to the Word of God and the Reformed Creeds as a true interpretation of God’s Word, acknowledging Christ as the only head of his church, and we desire to honor the apostolic injunction that office bearers are “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:12), and to do so “in a fitting and orderly way” For further Biblical study on this subject, see A Biblical Perspective on Diakonia by Dr. Mariano Avila, N.T Prof at Calvin Seminary @ bit.ly/DiakoniaBiblicalPerspective
- 14. ➔The Greek word for deacon, diakonos, means servant, helper, or waiter. The office of the deacon is one of servanthood and service after the example of Christ. ➔As leaders in ministries of mercy, service, and outreach in congregations, deacons must provide links between needs and the resources to meet those needs. That involves two major factors: ● Seeking Out Needs ● Seeking Out Resources The Role of RCA Deacons
- 15. Role of RCA Deacons cont. “The board of deacons shall serve those in distress and need. The deacons shall minister to the sick, the poor, the hurt, and the helpless, shall aid the victims of the world’s abuse, and shall express the social concerns of the church. They shall oversee and carry out their work as those concerned with the redemption of humankind. Their focus is turned toward service and ministry both to the world and in the church?” (Book of Church Order, 1.I.6 p.19) In short, deacons are people who follow the example of Jesus Christ by taking the basin and towel in service of others. They do this by… ● Manifesting Christ’s love ● Gathering and distributing offerings ● Assisting in worship ● Exercising careful stewardship .
- 16. The CRC Form for Ordination of Deacons (2016) Deacons serve by leading and equipping the church to minister to its members and the world in a rich diversity of ministries, awakening compassion, demonstrating mercy, seeking justice, and collaborating with God’s Spirit for the transformation of persons and communities. In imitation of Christ’s mercy, deacons teach us to love God, our neighbors, and the creation with acts of generous sharing, joyful hospitality, thoughtful care, and wise stewardship of all of God’s gifts. Deacons offer holistic responses that respect the dignity of all people, working to change exploitative structures and systems, equipping the church for ministries of reconciliation and peacemaking, and seeking opportunities for advocacy. To help them accomplish these tasks, deacons are to identify and develop gifts in both the church and community. By adding to all this words of encouragement and hope, deacons demonstrate in word and deed the care of the Lord himself. See entire 2016 form for Elders and Deacons @ bit.ly/ElderDeaconOrdination2016
- 17. The Charge to CRC Deacons from the 2016 Form To the deacons I charge you deacons, to inspire faithful ministries of service to one another, to the larger community, and to the world. Remind us that the Lord requires us “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [our] God” (Mic. 6:8). Teach us to be merciful and to seize new opportunities to worship God with offerings of wealth, time, and ability. Realize that benevolence is a quality of our life in Christ and not merely a matter of financial assistance. Therefore, minister to rich and poor alike, both within and outside the church. Weigh our opportunities for giving and service and use the church’s resources discerningly. Be compassionate to those in need and treat them with dignity and respect; hold in trust all sensitive matters confided to you. Encourage with words that create hope in hearts and with deeds that bring joy into lives. Be prophetic critics of the waste, injustice, and selfishness in our society, and be sensitive counselors to the victims of such evils. Let your lives be above reproach; live as examples of Christ Jesus; look to the interests of others. And in all your ministries help us participate in the renewing of all things even as we anticipate its completion when God’s kingdom comes.
- 18. A Suggested CRC Deacon Mandate The diaconate leads the congregation in giving expression to its ministry of mercy and justice, mobilizing the congregation for this ministry with its members, its community, and its world. The diaconate is vital in helping the church and its members do neighboring with its community well.
- 19. HDC’s Diaconal Resources Page on the web @ http://hdccrc.org/resources
- 20. Additional Resources 1. When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert 2. Helping Without Hurting in Short-term Missions by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert 3. Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert 4. Joining God, Remaking Church, and Changing the World by Alan J. Roxburgh 4. Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton 5. Charity Detox by Robert Lupton Books:
- 21. Add’l Resources cont. 6. CRC Network www.network.crcna.org/deacons 7. Diaconal Ministries Canada, www.diaconalministries.com/resources 8. Holland Deacons Conference, West Mich. Lakeshore https://hdccrc.org/resources/ 9. Volunteers In Service, Greater Grand Rapids http://visgr.org/index.php/equipping/deacons 10. Volunteers in Action, Denver http://www.volunteersinaction.info/?page_id=313 Websites:
- 22. Videos: 11.Helping Without Hurting: Reconsidering the Meaning of Poverty @ bit.ly/HWH_Poverty 11.ABCD Overview webinar by Wendy McCaig of Community Way @ bit.ly/ABCDOverview 11.Biblical Justice Videos from LIVE JUSTLY @ www.livejust.ly/videos/ 11.Embracing Meaningful Supports for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Faith Communities by Rev. William Gaventa @ bit.ly/SupportsFaithCommunities Note: Links to all underlined websites, books, and videos can be accessed by downloading and opening the PowerPoint at bit.ly/HDCDeaconOrientation