All Articles For Deacons' Meetings

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Previous article in this series: April 1, 2007, p. 297. In our last article, supposing that we were allowed to observe a meeting of the deacons, we saw them open with prayer, count the offerings from the last month’s collections, and read the minutes of the previous meeting. Then we took a break with them, as they enjoyed coffee and dessert, and visited the restroom. Now the men enter the room again, roll up their sleeves and shuffle papers, giving the impression that the actual work is about...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. Previous article in this series: February 1, 2007, p. 210. The room in which deacons’ meetings are held does not have an observers’ gallery. Unlike most sessions of the meetings of the church’s broader assemblies, the public is not welcome to observe deacons’ meetings—or consistory meetings, for that matter. The reason for this is not that the congregation may know nothing about the deacons’ work. The deacons do well to inform the congregation of the work they are doing, withholding any names and details pertaining to specific cases....

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church in Randolph, Wisconsin. I have a deacons’ meeting tonight. Another night away from the family. Endless discussions. Problems without solutions. And I hardly had time to prepare my report on the benevolent case that I am working on with one of my fellow deacons. Oh, how I dislike deacons’ meetings!” I hope, deacons, that such is not your view of deacons’ meetings. But, because you too are human, such thoughts may have crossed your mind. Reviewing the purpose and benefits of deacons’ meetings should enable us better to appreciate them. Such...