The Place of Deacons in the Local Church
Deacons have been influential in the life of the local church since biblical times. Their focus is servant-leadership and reflects the ministry of Jesus. As pastors and local congregations help people to recognize, accept and use their gifts in ministry, God will call some to lead in specialized areas. They will assist the pastor and equip people for ministry and service. Deacons will typically but not exclusively lead in ministries of:
• care and mercy • worship, music and creative arts • disciple making and mentoring/coaching
The discernment process for credentialing in the Free Methodist Church begins in the local church context. The FMCUSA Book of Discipline paragraph 6500 outlines the process for a Local Ministerial Candidate (LMC) (click here for information on the LMC process) to have opportunity to explore a perceived call in the context of the local church with a local mentor pastor. Persons who discern a call to the diaconate should pursue the Consecrated Deacon Candidate path at the completion of the LMC process. The Consecrated Deacon process is outlined in paragraph 6600 of the Book of Discipline. The local mentor pastor and local Board of Administration guide prospective deacons in the process of study and mentoring appropriate to their area of ministry and according to denominational standards.
Consecrated Deacons ¶6600
A. Consecrated Deacons are members in good standing in the Free Methodist Church. They are persons of good reputation, full of wisdom and the Spirit, whose spiritual gifts from God have been confirmed by their societies. In response to God’s call on their lives, Consecrated Deacons offer servant leadership in particular areas of congregational life, according to the gifts and graces God has given and they have developed. Complementing the work of elders, Consecrated Deacons serve the Society by assisting and leading the membership to carry out its ministries
to one another and the world.
B. The specialized ministries of the Consecrated Deacons include, but are not limited to, ministries of
1. Care and mercy.
2. Worship and music.
3. Administration and organization.
4. Spiritual nurture and counsel.
5. Outreach and service.
C. Under the leadership of the pastor(s), local congregations will help people recognize, accept, and use their gifts in ministry. In due course, God will call some to lead the body in specialized ministries, assisting the pastor(s) in equipping the people for ministry and dedicating significant time to this work.
D. Under the guidance of the pastor(s) and the local Board of Administration, persons called to such ministry will be recognized, encouraged, mentored, trained, examined, and certified for the diaconate.
1. The local Board of Administration shall guide prospective Consecrated Deacons in a process of study and mentoring appropriate for their areas of ministry and according to denominational standards. This shall begin by meeting the requirements of Local Ministerial Candidacy followed by the remaining requirements outlined in the Consecrated Deacon candidacy process. The local Board of Administration will give due consideration to character, calling, gifting, training, and fruitfulness in ministry (see Consecrated Deacon Handbook).
2. When a prospective Consecrated Deacon or his/her spouse has been divorced, clearance for ministry shall be required, according to denominational guidelines used by the bishops. The Ministerial Education and Guidance Board will review and recommend clearance for ministry to the local Board of Administration for final approval. The file will go to the conference office, so that if the Consecrated Deacon were later to proceed to elder’s orders, the bishops would have access to the previous endorsement.
E. Upon meeting the requirements and completing the process of preparation, the local Board of Administration shall approve the candidate for consecration as a deacon within the Society. The conference superintendent or designee shall consecrate the deacon with the assistance of the pastor(s) and other deacons. The local Free Methodist Church shall issue a certificate to the newly consecrated deacon.
F. On an annual basis the local Board of Administration shall review and approve Consecrated Deacons within their care as to their character and performance in ministry. When appropriate, with due process, the local Board of Administration may discontinue certification.
The Consecrated Deacon’s Role ¶6610
A. Consecrated Deacons remain members of the local Free Methodist church with no official standing in the annual conference. Consecrated Deacons may therefore serve as lay delegates to annual conference and General Conference.
B. The Consecrated Deacon’s particular ministry role is defined by his or her individual gifts, passions, and calling from God. Consecrated Deacons may therefore serve the local congregation in a variety of ways.
C. Consecrated Deacons may administer the sacraments only when authorized by an elder.
D. The consecration of a deacon will be valid only in that Society. Whenever a Consecrated Deacon transfers membership to another Free Methodist Church, the receiving pastor may decline to recognize the prior consecration. If the pastor chooses to affirm the transferring deacon’s consecration, the person may be approved for ministry in the new congregation after review by the pastor and local Board of Administration of the receiving Society.
E. A composite record or list of Consecrated Deacons will be kept
at the conference office and not listed in the denominational
Yearbook. They shall be clearly distinguished from ordained
Located Deacons who are listed in the Yearbook.
Click here for Path to Ordination Resources from The Center for Pastoral Formation
Click here to register an LMC in Pathwright for The Path to Ordination or Consecrated Deacon
Click here for Book of Discipline
The Center for Pastoral Formation (formally Ministerial Credentialing Services)
Click here to learn about The Free Methodist Way
Click here to view videos on The Free Methodist Way from 2021 Gateway Conference Leadership Summit
Pastors, for more information and training resources, please contact Michelle Boyd at gatewayfmcusa@gmail.com
For other questions regarding the Consecrated Deacon program, please contact Tyler Boyer at tyboyer@gmail.com