Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

especially with an eye to see how the role of deacons is foundational in our understanding of Christian leadership. The New Testament underscores the idea of Christian leadership on the foundation of the offices and roles of leaders as they provided care and instruction for the Church. These roles and offices include the position of deacons, elders, pastors, and bishops. The fundamental principle of all Christian leadership is servanthood, which is embodied directly in both the terminology and position of the ministry of deacons, or, as it is phrased in the Greek, diakonoi . The role of deacon is directly related to the role of offering selfless service to other members of the body of Christ, and it is this meaning that the term diakonoi captures in the Greek NT. The parallel of the NT ministry of deacons may be traced back to the development of the role of the assistant in the Jewish synagogue, the hazzan . Historically, the role of the deacon has been established formally in the Church, a ministry which in many traditions is referred to as the diaconate, or ministry of deacons. The NT pastoral epistles provide us with clear criteria and qualifications for both men and women to exercise their responsibility as deacons in the Church of God. The primary service of the office of deacon involved charitable works among the believers, supplying the needs of the saints, and administrating resources for the benefit of the community, especially those who were neediest and most vulnerable among them. The office, however, cannot be limited only to doing works of charity and compassion. The deacons of the NT were deeply spiritual individuals who functioned in the whole range of evangelism, teaching, and ministry. Three models and images comprise the role of the deacon in their ministry in the local assembly. These involve the image of a servant, a steward, and an assistant. The deacon is one who makes themself and their resources available to others in order that the needs of the body may be met in every way, both physically and spiritually.

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