Trinity Chapel Bible ChurchMeet our Deacon Team
MEET THE DEACON CANDIDATES!
The following men have been chosen by the Shepherding Team (Elders) to serve as our first deacons: Todd Howard, Mike Patterson, and Timm Sasser. Congratulate and get to know these men! Over the next four week, according to our constitution, these men will be announced verbally and in the worship guide - prior to a vote of affirmation on April 27. We want the church family to pray for,challenge, and get to know these men.
Click on each deacon's name below to get to know about them, their families, their vision for Trinity Chapel, and more. Additionally, their contact information is made available for you to get to know them. Below their pictures are three other brief sections for you to read, so you can know more about deacon leadership.
WHAT IS A DEACON?
The word deacon is a Greek word (deaconos) that means "servant." In a church, the Deacons are official servants of the body. Deacons are given ministries that help make sure the Elders/Pastors are able to stay faithful to the ministry of shepherding through the word of God and prayer (Acts 6). So, while we are all called to be servants - deacons take on specific administrative/ministerial roles in the body. The Bible does not specify what these roles are to be - just that they are to serve in partnership with the elders. So, as a body, we have defined the following roles as vital for the day to day funtioning of our body:
Specific roles:
- Finances: overseeing the budget and expenses of the church
- Facilities: overseeing the weekly maintenance, cleaning, and running of our facility
- Benevolence: taking care of our body when specific needs arise (e.g., financial)
Each role will be spearheaded by a Deacon and each Deacon will get others in the body involved in carrying out these important ministries. The specific roles may grow in the future as needs arise and the Elders (Shepherding Team) deem appropriate.
QUALIFICATIONS OF A DEACON:
Scripture requires the following of deacons: to be respectable - much like the qualifications for elders to be "above reproach" - deacons are called to be honest and open with their lives, without anything hidden. People are able to respect their honesty and integrity. As a part of the process of approving our new deacon candidates, we present the following men to Trinity Chapel’s church body, to affirm their qualifications for role in the church. Re-read the passage in 1 Timothy 3:8-15, look at the summary list below, and pray for these men. We encourage you to give them a call. Take them to lunch. Get to know them. Ask them questions. Pick their brains. Hear their vision and passion for Trinity Chapel! If you have any questions regarding the character of these men, please e-mail the elder candidates directly or contact Ted at our office.
- Relation to God: A man (male) who is worthy of respect and sincere as well as one who "keeps hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience" (consistently embodying the truth).
- Relation to Family: Husband of one wife (one-woman man, sexually pure), manages family well (provides for, leads, organizes, loves), and has a wife who is respectable as well.
- Relation to Self: not indulging in much wine (without addictions), not pursuing dishonest gain.
VOTING PROCESS:
On Sunday morning, April 27, after a four-week season of prayerful examination by the body, Trinity Chapel’s Ministry Partners will have the opportunity to vote on these candidates, approving them as our first ever deacons. Each man must receive at least 75% vote of approval, in order to be installed as a deacon.