Recently we voted to change the Deacon Qualification's here at EBC. The Deacon's made a recommendation that we use only the Biblical Qualifications and do away with any added qualifications that had been added onto by our Church. These are listed below.

Deacons are to: 

1. be known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.
2. be worthy of respect,
3. be sincere
4. be not indulging in much wine
5. be not pursuing dishonest gain.
6. keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
7. first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
8. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
9. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

While the measure did pass by a good majority it was not unanimous and we had a good deal of discussion and some disagreement about this. The discussion and disagreement seemed to center around three issues.

1. Can Deacons Drink Alcohol?
2. What does one wife mean?
3. Can women be Deacons?

First during the discussion my answer to these questions was usually prefaced with ... "we are not really addressing that issue right now". But in effort to be fair and forthcoming I am willing to share my heart with you on these issues and I welcome you to respond to my posting.

Question #1 Can Deacons drink Alcohol?

I think this issue is very, very clear to me. I can't find any version of the New Testament that has any prohibition other than "not be of much..." What does much mean? I don't think one drink can be defined as much or else it would say none, and I know that any amount that begins to cloud your judgment is too much. I have training in Drug and Alcohol addiction treatment and in almost all the literature having one or two drinks causes no harmful effects should not lead to impairment and would pose no serious threat of addiction.

Should a deacon be in a bar or liquor store? It depends on why he is there. I know that Jesus would go to those places where sinners hang out. I haven’t been to a bar lately unless you count Applebee’s or the like. But I would guess it would be a great place to find people in need of Christ's love and service.

Question #2 What does "one wife" mean.

On this question I can speak very personally. I am divorced from my first wife, the mother of my children. I lost my second wife, Teresa, to an untimely death and I am married again to Kelly who is divorced from her first husband. There was a time in this Church (not very long ago) that even marrying a woman who was divorced made it questionable if that man should serve as a Deacon.

In my case I was ordained while still married to my first wife. Upon our divorce I was prepared to submit my resignation to the Church. I remember speaking to Bob Christman who at the time was Deacon Chairman about my divorce. Bob as most of you know was a great servant a devout man of God and about as conservative Christian as I've ever known. When Bob said to me "I sure hope you are not considering resigning as a deacon", I was a little shocked and very reassured.  It has been the practice of this church for some time to consider divorce on a case by case basis.

The New Testament while teaching against it, does allow for divorce in the case of infidelity on the part of a spouse.  If you where privy to all the facts in my divorce or the facts in my wife Kelly's divorce I don't believe any of you would find fault with our actions. And by the way both you won't find very many who would be bigger opponents to divorce than either of us.

So I believe that "one wife" means one at a time and further more I believe it also is a prohibition upon any type of adultery.

The third question? Can a woman serve as a Deacon?

Easy answer NO! A woman servant in the New Testament Church is always referred to as a Deaconess. 1 Timothy 3:11 states that...In the same way, their wives^[b] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 

Many translations use the term women instead of wives. In the foot notes the NIV states that it can also be translated... In the same way Deaconess' are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. The scriptures also refer to the work of the Deaconess Phoebe (Romans chapter 16)


I have included several different translations of 1 Timothy 3:1-13 for any of you who would like to do your own study on these questions.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (New International Version)

1 Timothy 3

Overseers and Deacons

 1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,^[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

 8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

 11In the same way, their wives^[b] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes:

a.     1 Timothy 3:1 Traditionally bishop; also in verse 2

b.    1 Timothy 3:11 Or way, deaconesses

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (New Living Translation)

1 Timothy 3

Leaders in the Church

 1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder,^[a] he desires an honorable position.” 2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.^[b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker^[c] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

 6 An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.^[d] 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

 8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.

 11 In the same way, their wives^[e] must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes:

a.     1 Timothy 3:1 Or an overseer, or a bishop; also in 3:2, 6.

b.    1 Timothy 3:2 Or must have only one wife, or must be married only once; Greek reads must be the husband of one wife; also in 3:12.

c.     1 Timothy 3:3 Greek must not drink too much wine; similarly in 3:8.

d.    1 Timothy 3:6 Or he might fall into the same judgment as the devil.

e.    1 Timothy 3:11 Or the women deacons. The Greek word can be translated women or wives.


1 Timothy 3:8-13 (The Message)

 

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (The Message)

1 Timothy 3

Leadership in the Church

 1-7If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he's talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God's church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.

8-13The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (New Living Translation)

 

1 Timothy 3

Leaders in the Church

 1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder,^[a] he desires an honorable position.” 2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.^[b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker^[c] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

 6 An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.^[d] 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

 8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.

 11 In the same way, their wives^[e] must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Or an overseer, or a bishop; also in 3:2, 6.
2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or must have only one wife, or must be married only once; Greek reads must be the husband of one wife; also in 3:12.
3. 1 Timothy 3:3 Greek must not drink too much wine; similarly in 3:8.
4. 1 Timothy 3:6 Or he might fall into the same judgment as the devil.