Behind the Scenes With Our Deacons by Amy Duncan

You may think of deacons at 2BC as those who take offering or serve communion on Sunday mornings. Though those are important functions of the deacon body, deacon service actually extends far beyond Sunday morning responsibilities. The theme for our deacons this year is “More than Words.” The inspiration comes from 1 John 3:18, “. . . let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Our work this year includes ministry projects and service which transform words into action.

Deacons met in retreat in February to make plans and to set a vision for 2024. One of our activities was to examine the 12 Leadership Traits launched by the Leadership Development Committee earlier this year. We chose “compassion” and “commitment” as focus traits which describe our goals for our work and line up with our theme.

In February, deacons signed and mailed Valentine cards and delivered Valentine bags to several members of our church family. In April, deacons worked alongside Angie Fuller to plan and host the annual 2BC Easter Egg Hunt. This is a favorite event in our church family calendar, but it’s also an opportunity for outreach. We will assist with VBS set-up and at the family night event. In the fall we plan to do a ministry project with the students. We will assist at the Thanksgiving Dinner and at multiple events during December, including the all-church Christmas party.

Much of our work is behind the scenes. Each week a “lead deacon” serves alongside pastors with responsibilities on Sunday mornings, in ministry throughout the week, and in hospital visits on Fridays. This work is based on the model found in Acts 6 in which a group of helpers was established to serve alongside the disciples, easing the burden of their ministry.

2024 is the first full year of a new structure in which a small subset of deacons commits to a three-year term of very active service before rolling off for a sabbatical. This plan is similar to how our church committees are structured. Deacons on this rotation are called “Covenant Deacons.”

Later this year we will share information about an opportunity for our church family to elect new associate deacons. We have not added to the deacon body in several years, and we are excited to seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit as we plan for the future.