Elders vs Deacons

[Romanos]

What are the differences between these roles?

 

[tango]

I've always seen elders as responsible for spiritual leadership and deacons as responsible for practical leadership.

In other words if the roof leaks you talk to a deacon and if you need prayer you talk to an elder.

 

[Josiah]

The NT mentions several Christian offices. Sometimes, qualifications for them are given.

Unfortunately, the NT never precisely states what functions/roles/ministries are to be addressed by each. There are no stated job descriptions.

The TITLES sometimes give us clues: The word for "BISHOP" means supervisor and MAY indicate an office every Jewish synogogue, essentially similar to the role of a congregational president (or other leader). The word for "DEACON" suggests a servant of some kind. And of course, "teacher" and "evangelist" are pretty clear (although how that differs from say "pastor" is unclear). POINT: no job descriptures.

IN TIME, these offices were specified - but that is by tradition, tradition that has rarely been universal and often have morphed over time and now varies quite a bit by denomination.




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[Albion]

What are the differences between these roles?

It all depends on which denomination one belongs to.

In the more Catholic churches--RC, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox--the deacon is a clergyman, something like an assistant priest, and the priest is seen as an elder, although that term is never used. Meanwhile, in most Protestant churches the deacon (or several of them) is a layman with some responsibilities for tending to the running of the daily affairs of the congregation (in the vein of what Tango referred to earlier). And there are also those denominations which put the deacon somewhere in between.


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[MennoSota]

What are the differences between these roles?

Elders oversea the spiritual condition and obedience of the church community.
Deacons serve the distributed resources of the collective community to those who are in need within the church community.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

 

[NewCreation435]

Baptist churches generally only have deacons. Generally they are suppose to be servants, but from what I have seen most of them think they are in charge

 

[atpollard]

Baptist churches generally only have deacons. Generally they are suppose to be servants, but from what I have seen most of them think they are in charge

I think the same criticism applies to human beings in all titled positions.
Chad, an interim pastor at a church looking for a permanent pastor, once said that if it was up to him, the reserved parking space by the front door to the church would not be for the paid clergy but for the lady that volunteered at the nursery. Anyone who gives up their Sunday morning, at no pay, to care for your infants so you can have an hour’s peace at a worship service deserves more honor than all the people with titles that are paid to be there.

 

[NewCreation435]

I think the same criticism applies to human beings in all titled positions.
Chad, an interim pastor at a church looking for a permanent pastor, once said that if it was up to him, the reserved parking space by the front door to the church would not be for the paid clergy but for the lady that volunteered at the nursery. Anyone who gives up their Sunday morning, at no pay, to care for your infants so you can have an hour’s peace at a worship service deserves more honor than all the people with titles that are paid to be there.

The church I go to has visitor and handicap parking near the front, not the parking for the pastor. I have no idea where he parks, but he doesn't have a designated spot

 

[atpollard]

The church I go to has visitor and handicap parking near the front, not the parking for the pastor. I have no idea where he parks, but he doesn't have a designated spot

Your church could be wonderful, or the staff has a private entrance and they park near it.
I may be cynical, but after 5 plus decades of life, I find that people, as a rule, are people.

 

[tango]

Baptist churches generally only have deacons. Generally they are suppose to be servants, but from what I have seen most of them think they are in charge

Perhaps US Baptists are different to UK Baptists. My Baptist church has both elders and deacons, the elders look after spiritual leadership and deacons look after practical leadership.

 

[tango]

I think the same criticism applies to human beings in all titled positions.
Chad, an interim pastor at a church looking for a permanent pastor, once said that if it was up to him, the reserved parking space by the front door to the church would not be for the paid clergy but for the lady that volunteered at the nursery. Anyone who gives up their Sunday morning, at no pay, to care for your infants so you can have an hour’s peace at a worship service deserves more honor than all the people with titles that are paid to be there.

My previous church had space to park four cars. Five if people parked really close together. It was understood that people only parked at the church if they really needed to, and most of the spaces were reserved for the disabled. People parked in nearby streets, or walked. I walked - it took about five minutes.

My current church is more rural, and there's plenty of parking. There are a few designated spots for the disabled, obviously they are nearest the step-free entrances.

 

[Albion]

Perhaps US Baptists are different to UK Baptists. My Baptist church has both elders and deacons, the elders look after spiritual leadership and deacons look after practical leadership.

...and then there are some churches which have a minister/pastor in the role of elder, but also have deacons and trustees to do the work of your church's elders and deacons. So there are many ways that these terms get used.

 

[tango]

...and then there are some churches which have a minister/pastor in the role of elder, but also have deacons and trustees to do the work of your church's elders and deacons. So there are many ways that these terms get used.

True. At my current church we have trustees who look after the fabric of the building, and then we have elders and deaconesses. Some churches refer to elders and deacons collectively as the diaconate, a term that apparently covers any form of church leadership whether practical or spiritual.