Evidently PastorsForum does not accept attachments, so I will try to put it in the body of this letter. "Deacon Ordination" Every Southern Baptist church is autonomous and establishes its own policies but there are some regular procedures that seem to be used by most Southern Baptist churches. Each local church determines who they will ordain. 1. The church will elect the deacon and should check with the constitution to follow the established pro- cedures. The qualifications should also be presented here as well as the complete recommendation and election process. 2. The pastor, a minister, or the chairman of deacons may present the candidate(s) to the church and asks for permission to convene an Ordination Council. The church should not be hasty in ordaining an individual. The church should be certain he has the scriptural qualifications to serve as a deacon. The candidate should prove himself before he is considered for ordination. 3. If the request is approved, a time is established for the Ordination Council and ordained persons (deacons and ministers) are invited. These may be persons who are members of that particular church as well as ordained persons from other churches. It is a good practice to involve fellow churches as this involves support, prayer and fellowship from the community. 4. The pastor, a minister, the director of missions, or the chairman of deacons may preside over the Ordination Council until a chairman is elected. The chairman leads in the questioning of the person to be ordained. Usually the person being ordained is seated so that he is facing those who are asking questions. Any person who is present at the assembly council may ask questions. Usually the person being ordained is asked to briefly tell of his salvation experience. Other questions may be centered around biblical theology, ethics, morals, personal beliefs, missions, coperative program, virgin birth, errors in the bible, his ministry service, etc. 5. The Ordination Council votes on whether to recommend that the church proceed with the ordination of this man. The council may choose to delay the ordination or even reject the candidate. That is why it is usually best to hold the council one week prior to the ordination service. The questioning should not be done in a way to promote fear but in a loving manner to help him express his faith and beliefs. 6. If the Council votes to recommend the ordination, the pastor or chairman of the Ordination Council presents the recommendation to the church, either at a regular business meeting or a called business meeting, for church approval. This will usually be done during the following week. 7. If the church approves, a date for an Ordination service will be set. The service follows the order of a regular worship service with modifications. Someone (or two people) may give a charge to the candidate and a charge to the church. Appropriate music is selected. Someone may preach an ordination sermon. Someone will pray an ordination prayer and ordained persons will lay on hands. The deacon candidate may have someone in mind that he would like to preach the message. In either case notify these men and check for their availablity and this also gives them preparation time. The man being ordained should be presented a very nice Bible and along with his wife and family receive the congratulations of the people after the benediction. The service should be not more than one hour in length. 8. A Certificate of Ordination is presented (may be purchased at a Christian book store), or your local association may have some on hand that you may purchase. If the certificate is signed ahead of time; it may be placed in a nice frame. Sample Ordination Service With One Speaker: You may add or adapt these programs as you are led by God to do so. For instance, I have enjoyed in the past, placing deacon testimonials right after the bible presentation. And yes, it is a real good idea to have these men agreed ahead to do so. This avoids atleast two things. One, it does not allow the service to be stretched out too long. Two, the agreed deacons have an opportunity to pray about their presentation first. Call to Worship Hymn of Praise Scripture and Prayer Introductory Statement (Tell why you have gathered.) Presentation of the Candidate and His Family The Ordination Prayer (Candidate will kneel facing the congregation.) Laying on of Hands (While the candidate is kneeling, ordained men in the congregation will file by and place their hands on the candidates head and whisper a prayer, or an encouraging word to the minister.) Presentation of the Bible Special Music Message Hymn of Commitment Closing Prayer The entire congregation will greet the candidate and his family. Sample Ordination Service With A Separate Charge To Candidate and Church Call to Worship Hymn of Praise Scripture and Prayer Introductory Statement (Tell why you have gathered.) Presentation of the Candidate and His Family Charge To The Candidate Hymn of Praise (or appropriate special music.) The Ordination Prayer (Candidate will kneel facing the congregation.) Laying on of Hands (While the candidate is kneeling, ordained men in the congregation will file by and place their hands on the candidates head and whisper a prayer, or an encouraging word to the minister.) Presentation of the Bible Special Music Charge To The Church Hymn of Commitment Closing Prayer The entire congregation will greet the candidate and his family. ----and------ QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PROSPECTIVE DEACONS Dear Prospective Deacon: The work of a deacon in a church is a most serious and sacred responsibility. In order to help you determine your own qualifications for the office, the questions listed below should be answered honestly, carefully, and with the deepest prayerful regard. This is a confidential inquiry, viewed ONLY by the pastor and active deacons. The purpose of this inquiry is to insure a minimum of embarrassment to any and all concerned, allowing the congregation to make the most spiritual selection possible. Upon completion, the prospective candidate will confidentially give this signed and completed inquiry to the pastor. After the pastors review, an interview will be set between the pastor, deacons and the prospective candidate. Candidates who successfully complete the inquiry and interview will be presented to the church body as recommended for the office of deacon. The Bible says, they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree However, it is of great importance to note the expense of this purchase. Service as a deacon will certainly cost you a great deal of time and energy. All deacons will be held accountable for a great deal of responsibility. The office of deacon holds NO power, authority or control. Deacons are not church bosses but rather servants of the pastor and local church body. Please read the scriptural qualifications and expectations found in the Book of Acts 6:2-4 and also in I Timothy 3:8-13. You and your wife should discuss and pray over this all-important matter. If you are convinced that Gods will is for you to serve as a deacon, please fill out and return to the pastor. If you do not feel called to the office or are not qualified, please personally ask the pastor to remove your name from consideration. This will eliminate a great deal of embarrassment. 1. Do you know that you have been saved through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? _________________ 2. Have you followed the Lord in Believers Baptism? _____________ 3. Do you believe that the Bible is the infallible, inherent and verbally inspired Word of God? __________________ 4. Do you firmly believe in the Virgin Birth, Atoning blood and the personal emanate return of Christ? ______________ 5. According to the teachings of Acts 6, do you believe that the main duty of a deacon is to serve as the pastors helper in secular and menial duties so that the pastor will not have to leave the Word of God and serve tables? ___________________ 6. Do you truly feel called to serve as a deacon here at First Assembly of God of Crestview, Florida? ___________________________ 7. If you should be elected, would you honestly and conscientiously serve to the best of your ability? ____________________ 8. If not fulfilling the office properly, are your willing to step-down at the pastors recommendation? ____________________ 9. The New Testament deacons were full of the Holy Ghost. Have you so surrendered and do you purpose daily to live a spirit-filled life of consecrated service? ____________________ 10. Is Jesus Christ and His church FIRST in your life ahead of all other activities (example sports, vacations, get-a-ways, kids activities and para-church events etc.) ? _______________________ 11. The Bible demands that we be a peculiar people. We should not live like the world, and we are to Abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22). Do you, your wife and children all adhere to this principle at home (in private) as well as publicly? __________ 12. The Bible insists on separation from worldly practices. Do you or your wife belong to any lodge or secret society? _______________ 13. Are you in good fellowship with both the church body and the pastor and do you feel you could assist the pastor willingly and cheerfully under Gods leadership? ________________ 14. Responding to I Timothy 3:12, have you or your wife ever been divorced? ________________ If so, explain __________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ .. 15. Are you the head of your home, and do you have your wife and children in subjection with all gravity? ____________________ 16. Do your children (living at home) mind you respectfully, and do you have them under control? ________________ 17. Do you faithfully attend ALL of the services of First Assembly, Sunday School, A.M. Worship, P.M. Worship, Wednesday evening, revival services, etc.? ______________________ 18. Stewardship is a serious qualification. Do you believe in and practice tithing to your local church? _______________ 19. Will you work with the pastor and other deacons on the basis of frank, brotherly confidence and cooperation? __________________ 20. Will you try to put down murmurings and complaining as you would a fire, facing them frankly, dealing with them fairly, while standing by biblical convictions? ______________________ 21. Do you use in any amount, alcoholic beverages, have part in the sale of them, or allow them in your home? ___________________ 22. Do you pay your bills regularly and promptly, and are not involved in any financial difficulty that might embarrass this church? ______ 23. Do both you and your wife know how to hold your tongue against spreading gossip or talking critically about others? ______________ 24. Can you and your wife avoid holding grudges, do you love all your fellow members, and do you maintain a true and sincere spirit of forgiveness? _________________ 25. The body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit. a. Are you temperate in appetite? ___________ b. Do you in any way defile your body with the use of any tobacco products or alcohol? ________________ 26. Can you say that you honestly say that you consistently witness and seek to win souls to Christ as taught in Acts 1:8? _______________ 27. Will you actively support all soul-winning programs of this church, as a deacons first responsibility is to minister to the saints? _______ 28. Do you believe that the main mission of the church is to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ as clearly stated in Matt. 28:19-20? _____________ 29. Will you work for the active advancement of FBC, moving by faith, to make it a great and growing church for the glory of God? ______ If you believe that in view of the biblical qualification and church expectations placed upon deacons that you are called and equipped by God to serve in this capacity, please sign and return to the pastor. Candidate name: __________________________________ Wife name: __________________________________ Signed : ___________________________ Date : _________________ Al --- carnes29720 <mjj123@...> wrote: > Brother cory; What did you find? Below is all I > received > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "al cory" <rapha_el_ministries@...> > To: <pastorsforum@...> > Cc: "Albert Corey" <rapha_el_ministries@...> > Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 4:01 PM > Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] ordination of deacons > > > > > > --- al cory <rapha_el_ministries@...> wrote: > > > >> > >> Dear Brother Jeff, > >> > >> I did find this in my files on Deacons. > >> > >> Al Corey > >> > > >> To subscribe, send a message to: > >> pastorsforum-join@... > >> > >> To unsubscribe, send a message to: > > pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > To subscribe, send a message to: > pastorsforum-join@... > > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.8/714 - > Release Date: 3/8/2007 > 10:58 AM > > To subscribe, send a message to: > pastorsforum-join@... > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: > pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > >