Principles of the role and qualities of deacons. The 21st C equivalence. the application to multiple cultural contexts.

1. The Acts of the Apostles
6:1-7 Deacons and Deaconesses:
Community-Engaged Economic Leadership
Viv Grigg, Alhambra, Feb 2018

2. The Acts of the
Holy Spirit
 Acts 1:8 Frames the Book
Power, Holy Spirit,
Jerusalem, Judea and
Samaria, the ends of the
earth.
 Acts 2 the gathered
church of Jerusalem
 Acts 8:1 is the turning
point to the scattered
church.
◦ The Antioch church
◦ The Pauline Churches
 We will read in Acts 6 -
the Jerusalem church

3. Acts 6:1-7
 The Problem: In those days when the number
of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic
Jews among them complained against the
Hebraic Jews because their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution of food.
 The Process: So the twelve gathered all the
disciples together and said, “It would not be
right for us to neglect the ministry of the word
of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and
sisters, choose seven men from among you
who are known to be full of the Spirit and
wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to
them, and will give our attention to prayer and
the ministry of the word.”

4.  The People: This proposal pleased
the whole group. They chose Stephen,
a man full of faith and of the Holy
Spirit; also Phillip, Procorus, Nicanor,
Timon, Pamenas and Nicolas from
Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They
presented these men to the apostles,
who prayed and laid their hands on
them.

5.  The Pruit: So the word of God
spread. The number of disciples in
Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a
large number of priests became
obedient to the faith.

6. Differentiating Principle and
Practice
 Principles are cross-cultural
 Practices are specific to situations and to
cross-cultural
 Principle 1: Delegation of Leadership
 Principle 2: Specialization in Economic
Leadership
 Principle 3: Qualifications of Leadership
 Principle 4: Process of Leadership
Selection

7. Following which Early
Church?
1. Jesus feeding 5 thousand
2. Revival
fire at
Pentecost 3. The
Antioch
multi-ethnic
mega-
church
4. Paul’s Roman city
church web of
converted synagogues

8. What’s a Deacon?
 The basic meaning of Greek word group
behind the English translation "deacon"
(diakon-) suggests the notion of service and
servanthood, especially in regard to providing
practical help with respect to the basic
necessities of life. The basic task of
deacons, then, seems to be helping those in
need of food, water, and clothing, as well as
ministering through hospitality and
welcoming.
 Economic Leadership Engaging the
Community
 Administrative Leadership

9. Was Robin Hood a
Deacon?
Acts 6:1-7

10. The Story of Robin Hood
 In English history there is a well-
known story of Robin Hood. He was a
noble whose lands had been stolen
while he was away at the wars.
 He lived in the Forest of Sherwood,
and whenever the Sherriff of
Nottingham’s people passed, he
would rob them, then distribute the
money to the poor people of the
district.

11. A DIACONAL STORY:
AY BAHAY?
IS IT A HOUSE?
Isang araw ako'y nadalaw sa bahay tambakan
Labinglimang mag-anak ang duo'y nagsiksikan
Nagtitiis sa munting barung-barong na sira-sira
Habang doon sa isang mansyon halos walang
nakatira
Sa init ng tabla't karton sila doo'y nakakulong
Sa lilim ng yerong kalawang at mga sirang gulong
Pinagtagpi-tagping basurang pinatungan ng bato
Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ang tawag sa ganito

12. Is it a
House?
One day I visited a house in the dumpsite
Fifteen in a family crowded in one place
Tolerating a tiny torn and broken house
When a mansion afar hardly has anyone
In the hot walled carton boxes
There they live like prisoners
Under the rusty roof with worn out tires
Scraps of garbage put together with rocks
I don’t understand why such as this is called a house
I wrote what my eyes have witnessed
I wrote a song about their situation
Like a painting describing their plight
I sought the learned people regarding this

13. Is it a
House?
A famous senator was the first I met
And a specialized professor of a big university
Even the blessed of this world
Which are the media and the pulpit
All of them agreed that this is called a house.
From morn till night they toil and sweat
To eat, they squat on the floor
On the dilapidated surface, trying to rest
Blessed are the dead - they have a better place
Maybe one day you passed by that place
You touched and heard, smelled and saw
I am not making you guilty,
you judge for yourself
Do you think in the eyes of the Creator
this can be rightly called a house?

14. Kingdom Transformation of a
House in a Slum
The government gave the land rights. The family pay a small amount
every month. As a son of the family I raised money to pay for
construction of two stories of the house! They doubled the money in a
cooperative. Now it is four stories.

15. Kingdom Activity or not?
 Electricity – Does God want light?
 Water – Does God want healthy water?
 Garbage – God cares for garbage?
 Community Organization – where in the
scriptures does it tell us to defend the
poor?
 Land Rights – Does God care about the
people having their own home?
 He reigns – over all the earth
 We are to teach all, including economic
and environmental discipleship.

16. Differentiating Principle and
Practice
 Principle 1: Delegation of Leadership
 Principle 2: Specialization of
Leadership
 Principle 3: Qualification of Leadership
 Principle 4: Process of Leadership
Selection
 Principle 5: Wise Leadership
Multiplication creates harmony that
multiplies works.

17. Context of Jerusalem Church vs
Slum Context vs Alhambra
Context
Jerusalem Modern Slum Alhambra
Widows Electricity Gangs?
Tirads? Drugs
in Schools?
Racial
tensions
Water Incorporating
migrants?
Garbage ???
Land rights

18. Alhambra - Some Ethnic
DynamicsTotal Population 83,039 100%
White
Black or African-
American
American Indian and
Alaska Native
Asian
Indian
Chinese
Filipino
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Other Asian
23,521
1,281
538
43,957
451
31,015
2,109
1,224
844
4,212
4,102
28.3
1.5
0.6
52.9
0.5
37.3
2.5
1.5
1.0
5.1
4.9
Hispanic or Latino (of
any race)
28,582 34.4
Some Other Race 10,805 13
Two or More Races 2,906 3.5

19. Practicing the Principles
Principle Jerusalem Slum Alhambra
Delegation of
Leadership
Apostles Evangelist Pastor
Specialization
of Leadership
Apostles &
Deacons
elders &
deacons
Pastor, elders,
deacons
Qualification of
Leadership
Wisdom, full of
Spirit, able to
manage a
feeding
program,
Greek-
speaking
Wisdom, full of
Spirit,
Community
organizer,
credit
cooperative
developer
Wisdom, full of
the Spirit,
?????
Process of
Leadership
Selection
People elected Evangelist
appoints, later
people elect
Baptist: Elders
recommend,
people elect

20. Who has deaconess/deacon
gifts?
Etc, etc

21. So what is a Deacon?
Choose the Best Answer
1. Gives out hymn books at the door
2. Raises millions for the church
building
3. Takes money from the rich and gives
it to the poor
4. Develops the Economic Discipleship
of the Community of Faith

22. ◦ Follow the stories of Stephen and Phillip
in the next chapters – deacons become
evangelists and martyrs!! This role is a
preparation for other leadership roles.
 Qualities
◦ Men full of the Spirit
◦ Full of wisdom
◦ Proven character
 Role
◦ To handle the physical aspects of the
ministry
The roles and qualities of deacons (Acts 6:
1-4)

23. Qualities of
deacons/deaconesses
(1 Tim 3:8-13) (Some think the
deaconess is the wife of
the deacon, but
throughout history it has
been a role for women –
single or married).
 Worthy of respect
 Sincere
 Not drunken
 Not dishonest in
business
 Doctrinally sound
 Tested
 Not malicious
talkers
 Trustworthy
 Only one wife
 Manages family
well

24. 21st C Deacons
 Skilled in redistribution of money from the rich
to the poor.
 They are spiritual men and women
(deaconesses),
 Called to exercise those gifts in the
management of the churches’ funds for the
poor.
 In 21st century jargon, they are economic
experts, social workers, community
development workers, budgeting advisors,
with strong pastoral care for the needy.
 They must have good business heads and
gifts of mercy.

25. Questions for a Congregation
The following are some important questions for
a congregation to grapple with:
 What would be the equivalent job description
for deacons be in a 21st century city church?
What giftedness and training would be
needed?
 What kind of people have these character
qualities in your church? What are they
currently doing in ministry?
 How is your church currently engaged with
the poor, the needy, the oppressed? How
could your church open new dimensions of
ministry that serve the needy in your
community?
 What changes to the constitution, leadership

26. Expand the Role of the Diaconate
 If there is a commitment to be salt and
light in society, who within your church
has the mandate to work on such
engagement?
 As small churches do not have
sufficient members trained in these
issues, who are others in the city
seeking to do the same?
 What forums are needed for discussion
of these issues by members of your

27. Training Deacons Across a
City
 Discern where your deacons can be
trained in cooperatives, economic
redistribution, social work, economic
theology and advocacy.
 A local church is unlikely to discern
well on many public issues so needs
to link with others - denominational or
across citynetworks.
 Citywide diaconates across
churches

28. Alhambra Plan
Advocacy involves working
with city leaders on city
issues. City Planning creates
a healthy environment –
reflecting the Kingdom of God

29. Let us DEAC!
Developing
◦Economic
Action
Citywide

30. The End
 So the word of God spread. The
number of disciples in Jerusalem
increased rapidly, and a large number
of priests became obedient to the
faith.
 May the Lord multiply your good
deeds, so that the gospel spread
rapidly and the leaders of the city turn
to him.