Some guidance from the Scriptures: As a Church we stand on this principle from Baptist Together: That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures From Acts 6:1-10 - the elections of the first Deacons (diakanos, server): Deacons were chosen by the entire company of Jesus-followers, and then brought to the Apostles for the laying on of hands and prayer to commission them into ministry in the community. The original driving force here is the need for fairness and equality, and the need for the Apostles to be free to exercise their ministry, which was different from that of the deacon. The stature of the people chosen, this list includes Stephen (first martyr) and Philip (great evangelist)! Later, as the church grew, Paul gives instructions to his protégé Timothy (1 Timothy 3:8-13). From these few scriptures, we can draw up a list of the qualities we are looking for when we seek to elect deacons: 1. They must be servant-hearted, and able to undertake specific tasks that enable the church function more efficiently and fairly. 2. They must have the approval of the church community, and the support of their immediate family. 3. They must have good self-control, walking in purity with regards to alcohol, sexual intimacy, gossip and ethical business practices. 4. They ought to be setting a good example to their family - seen in the way the family relates to each other and God. 5. They should understand that their practical service might open up opportunities for them to speak for Christ, so they must spend time in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible study and worship.
Deacons responsibilities at Tab: Prayerfully commit themselves to the Lord and His people here at Tab. Work alongside the Pastors / other deacons to raise the profile of designated areas of church life. Draw a team around themselves to fulfil the church's potential in their areas of responsibility. Play a part in the decision making of the church by attending Leadership Team meetings (twice monthly), and Church Meetings (bi-monthly) and any other specified meetings. Meet for prayer with the Pastors, other deacons, worship/pa team and children/young people s workers before the Sunday morning services; to help serve communion and other roles. Plan, through regular meetings and communication with the Pastors, how their designated area of church life will develop over the coming years. Acts as a Trustee of the charity Tabernacle Baptist Church Wolverhampton. Deacons as Trustees Currently our constitution dictates that all Deacons will be elected as Trustees of the Church. We are currently exploring a different structure where the two roles might be separated but for now all Deacons will act as Trustees for the charity Tabernacle Baptist Church Wolverhampton. A Trustee s role is as follows: Trustees are the group of people who have the general control and legal responsibility for the Church s management and administration and who will take strategic decisions about the activities of the organisation, ensuring that the organisation is well run. (Charities Act of 2011). Trustees who act in breach of their legal duties can be held responsible for the consequences. 2
The 6 main duties of a Trustee Ensure that the Church is carrying out its purposes for which it was set up to do, as defined in the Constitution Ensure that the Church complies with its governing document and Charity Law, that its financial accounts are thoroughly controlled, returns completed and all legislation is up to date Act in the organisation s best interests recognising and dealing with conflicts of interests and ensuring that balanced and informed decisions are taken Manage the organisation s resources (including people, property and money) responsibly with prudence; ensuring that all appropriate policies and procedures are in place Act with reasonable care and skill ensuring all documents for discussion are scrutinised and where necessary outside help is sought Ensure that the organisation is accountable, well run, effective and transparent Being a Trustee can be rewarding but demanding of time, skills, knowledge and abilities The following reasons disqualify someone from acting as a trustee: 1. Unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception 2. Being a person who has been removed from a relevant office 3. Director disqualification 4. Insolvency 3
Specific roles: Deacon for Community Development church's social action ministry to our immediate neighbourhood at Dunstall Road and in the city centre through Broad Street, seeking to bring the peace and hope of Jesus to our city. Including taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: Summer Festival activities LANA (Local Area & Neighbourhood Arrangements) Partnerships with outside agencies and other churches Christmas activities Leaflet distribution Deacon for Discipleship church's small group structure and the way we nurture people towards Christian maturity. Including taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: The care of new believers Midweek meetings and Housegroups Women's groups Men's groups Discipleship needs of the housebound Input into the teaching programme of Sunday services Deacon for Evangelism church's evangelistic mission to our neighbourhood and city. Including taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: Evangelistic courses (e.g. Alpha) Literature distribution Prison outreach Developing use of the car park during football matches Specific events around times like Easter and Christmas Training courses for friendship evangelism 4
Deacon for Music & Worship church's musical ministries. Including taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: Music in gathered worship Sunday services Audio-Visual ministry Deacon for Pastoral Care way church expresses Christian love and concern within the fellowship, supporting those in need and being Christ to each other. Including taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: Pastoral care of members Hospital visiting Prayer Line Interviewing potential new members Pastoral care of the housebound Care around funerals, weddings and dedications Deacon for Vision and Strategy Helps Tab by giving attention to the way that the whole of church life is shaped towards the vision and strategies decided on by the Church Meeting and through the Leadership Team. With the Pastors and Leadership Team Meeting shares oversight of the whole of the church s life, helping housegroups and small groups as well as the various other expressions of our church life stay focussed on our shared vision. Alongside the Pastors and the wider Leadership Team, seeks God s guidance in shaping our life together, and helps make that a reality. The role requires breadth of experience, and people marked by wisdom and insight. 5
Deacon for World Mission Alongside the Pastors takes an interest in and seeks to develop the church's ministry in the areas of world mission and international development, crisis appeals and other global issues. In particular, this means taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: The care of missionaries Tab currently supports Helping those who sense a call to work overseas Raising the profile of world mission in the life of the church Making the church aware of international development and other issues, and leading the church in prayer and response (including BMS Relief Fund, Tearfund etc.) Deacon for Youth and Young Adults church's ministry to 12-25 yr olds. In particular, this means taking some leadership, oversight or involvement in: A Church-led youth club Youth For Christ Students (both those that come here to study, and the those we send off to study) An input into family services and all-age worship times Youth Music group 6
At our AGM, Wednesday 28 th March, we are looking to appoint eight Deacons to the Leadership Team. Deacons are also Trustees. Deacons are elected to serve for a period of three years (five years for Admin & Finance/Church Secretary). Each nomination requires a proposer and a seconder. Please prayerfully consider who you could ask to stand in these important roles within the church. Any member can be elected if allowed by our Memorandum & Articles (includes being at least 18 and not a close relation of another Deacon) and on condition they re not legally disqualified as a trustee. We are also looking to appoint a Finance Co-ordinator who reports to the Leadership Team but is not a deacon or trustee themselves. The Finance Co-ordinator is elected to serve for a period of five years. Nominations by 2 members should be submitted to the Church Office, or one of deacons by Sunday 11th March 2018. You must obtain the consent of the person you are nominating. Please see other side for vacancies. We, the undersigned members of Tabernacle Baptist Church Wolverhampton, nominate: to stand for election with responsibility for/as: We confirm that the above member has consented to be nominated. Name: Name: (Proposer, block capitals) (Seconder, block capitals) Signed: Signed: 7
Deacons or roles not for re-election Admin & Finance Barbara Hamnett Children Anne Berry Fellowship Elaine Kulyna Prayer Mike Hurdley 1 st Vision & Strategy Bill Fearnehough Vacancy with a deacon willing to stand again (others can be nominated) Pastoral Cynthia McDonald Vacancies Community Development Discipleship Evangelism Music & Worship 2 nd Vision & Strategy World Mission Youth Officer vacancy Finance Co-ordinator Tabernacle Baptist Church Wolverhampton, or 'Tab' for short. Tab@Broad Street, Westbury Street, WV1 1JD Tab@Dunstall Road (and office), Whitmore Reans, WV6 0NJ hello@tab.church 01902 428962 www.tab.church 8