The document discusses the role of deacons in the church today. It references a report that states the church's nature is to be a servant people, not just have deacons, and the calling of deacons is to equip the church to live out its own servant role. A synod vote formed diaconal conferences to foster collaboration among deacons. The Holland Deacons' Conference supports partner congregations and ministries that help improve lives and communities. HDC provides homes and support for people with disabilities.

1. The Holland Deacons’ Conference
&
the Role of Deacons Today
“… the church does not simply have deacons but is by its
very nature and calling a diaconate – that is, a community
created by the triune God to be a servant people in the
world”. – Diakonia Remixed, 2013
(Access full report @ bit.ly/DiakoniaRemixed)
Complete PowerPoint available @ bit.ly/HDCDeacon

2. “Diakonia, as the work of service that restores
shalom, is not confined to any particular office but
belongs to the church as a whole. The calling of
deacons is not to perform that service on behalf
of the church, but to equip, empower and enable
the church to live out its own diaconal calling”.
Diakonia Remixed, p. 3

3. RCA SYNOD VOTES TO FORM DIACONAL CONFERENCES
These will foster collaboration, education, and encouragement among deacons
Date Posted:
Monday, June 12, 2017
On Monday, June 12, General Synod delegates voted to form diaconal conferences across the RCA
(R 17-14). The Task Force on Diaconal Assemblies recommended the formation of these
conferences to foster collaboration, education, and encouragement among deacons. Similar
conferences already take place in our sister denomination, the Christian Reformed Church in North
America.
From RCA website @ https://www.rca.org/news/synod-votes-form-diaconal-conferences

4. For nearly 40 years, HDC has often been at the forefront of helping
improve lives and communities served by roughly 30 partner
congregations. Today, among other things, HDC ...
➢ Has formal partnerships with two affiliate ministries it helped start:
• Buen Pastor Ministries
• Lakeshore Little People’s Place (LLPP)
➢ Supports, educates, and coordinates the work of deacons in
and about the work to which they have been called.
➢ Provides a supportive Christian community and five high quality
homes—known as Brothers and Sisters Homes—for 30 men and
women with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Additionally, HDC staff encourage and provide support for
engagement in community life, faith formation experiences,
employment in the community, and more.

5. Click on slide or go to link @ http://bit.ly/MBH-MSH to view this 3 minute video
Brothers & Sisters Homes is a ministry of the Holland Deacons’
Conference supporting men and women with Intellectual and
Developmental Differences/Disabilities (I/DD).

6. HDC’s Foundations & Strategic Framework
HDC’s Purpose, Mission, Vision, Values & Goals
Our Purpose:
The Holland Deacons’ Conference (HDC) exists to encourage, support and equip
deacons, church members and partners to collaborate in Christ-like acts of mercy,
justice and compassion that transform lives and communities, reflecting and
advancing God’s reign.
Our Mission:
Equipping deacons, church members and partners to participate in God’s work of
transforming lives and communities.
Our Vision:
Transformed Lives and Communities
Continued on next slide →

7. Our Core Values:
Partnership – We are committed to encouraging diaconates, local congregations and
community partners to work together combining resources and efforts to more effectively
address and support shared diaconal concerns and projects (Acts 4: 32-35).
Justice – God calls us to restore and reconcile broken relationships (2 Corinthians 5:16-
19) through the pursuit of justice (Micah 6:8).
Compassion – We are motivated by and committed to demonstrating Christ’s
compassion for the vulnerable, poor and suffering in our communities and world (1 John
3:16-19).
Our Overarching Goals:
Engaging Community: HDC will encourage each diaconate and church to join in God’s
transforming work in their communities.
Equipping Deacons: HDC will serve as a link to available teaching, training,
encouragement and partnerships for deacons and diaconal ministries from congregations
and communities within Classis Holland.
Doing Justice: HDC will equip and encourage deacons and congregations to act on
justice issues affecting vulnerable, poor and suffering people in their communities.

8. What’s A Deacon to Do?
This 13-minute video has deacons from the Reformed
Church in America reviewing the RCA’s six areas of
diaconal concern.

9. For further reflection on each of these areas, go to Devotions for Deacons 2 from Diaconal Ministries Canada
Primary Areas of Responsibility for CRC Deacons

10. Rethinking Community Engagement:
Not “To” or “For” but “With”

11. Moving From Doing “For” to Doing “With”
by Wendy McCaig, Community Way
Click on slide or the following link to view this 10 minute video: bit.ly/DoingwithABCD

12. http://bit.ly/ABCD3minutes
How Christians and Congregations View and Relate the Community Matters!

13. Biblical Pattern Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry
(diakonia), for building up the body of Christ…”
(Ephesians 4 ESV)
As Christians in the Reformed tradition, we confess complete
subjection to the Word of God and the Reformed Creeds as a true
interpretation of God’s Word, acknowledging Christ as the only head
of his church, and we desire to honor the apostolic injunction that
office bearers are “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:12), and to do so “in a
fitting and orderly way”
For further Biblical study on this subject, see A Biblical Perspective on Diakonia by Dr. Mariano Avila,
N.T Prof at Calvin Seminary @ bit.ly/DiakoniaBiblicalPerspective

14. ➔The Greek word for deacon, diakonos, means servant,
helper, or waiter. The office of the deacon is one of
servanthood and service after the example of Christ.
➔As leaders in ministries of mercy, service, and outreach in
congregations, deacons must provide links between needs
and the resources to meet those needs. That involves two
major factors:
● Seeking Out Needs
● Seeking Out Resources
The Role of RCA Deacons

15. Role of RCA Deacons cont.
“The board of deacons shall serve those in distress and need. The
deacons shall minister to the sick, the poor, the hurt, and the helpless,
shall aid the victims of the world’s abuse, and shall express the social
concerns of the church. They shall oversee and carry out their work as
those concerned with the redemption of humankind. Their focus is
turned toward service and ministry both to the world and in the
church?” (Book of Church Order, 1.I.6 p.19)
In short, deacons are people who follow the example of Jesus Christ
by taking the basin and towel in service of others.
They do this by…
● Manifesting Christ’s love
● Gathering and distributing offerings
● Assisting in worship
● Exercising careful stewardship
.

16. The CRC Form for Ordination of Deacons (2016)
Deacons serve by leading and equipping the church to minister to its members and
the world in a rich diversity of ministries, awakening compassion, demonstrating mercy,
seeking justice, and collaborating with God’s Spirit for the transformation of persons
and communities. In imitation of Christ’s mercy, deacons teach us to love God, our
neighbors, and the creation with acts of generous sharing, joyful hospitality, thoughtful
care, and wise stewardship of all of God’s gifts. Deacons offer holistic responses that
respect the dignity of all people, working to change exploitative structures and systems,
equipping the church for ministries of reconciliation and peacemaking, and seeking
opportunities for advocacy. To help them accomplish these tasks, deacons are to
identify and develop gifts in both the church and community. By adding to all this
words of encouragement and hope, deacons demonstrate in word and deed the care
of the Lord himself.
See entire 2016 form for Elders and Deacons @ bit.ly/ElderDeaconOrdination2016

17. The Charge to CRC Deacons from the 2016 Form
To the deacons
I charge you deacons, to inspire faithful ministries of service to one
another, to the larger community, and to the world. Remind us that the
Lord requires us “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with
[our] God” (Mic. 6:8). Teach us to be merciful and to seize new opportunities
to worship God with offerings of wealth, time, and ability. Realize that
benevolence is a quality of our life in Christ and not merely a matter of
financial assistance. Therefore, minister to rich and poor alike, both within
and outside the church. Weigh our opportunities for giving and service and
use the church’s resources discerningly. Be compassionate to those in need
and treat them with dignity and respect; hold in trust all sensitive matters
confided to you. Encourage with words that create hope in hearts and with
deeds that bring joy into lives. Be prophetic critics of the waste, injustice,
and selfishness in our society, and be sensitive counselors to the victims of
such evils. Let your lives be above reproach; live as examples of Christ Jesus;
look to the interests of others. And in all your ministries help us participate
in the renewing of all things even as we anticipate its completion when
God’s kingdom comes.

18. A Suggested CRC Deacon Mandate
The diaconate leads the congregation in giving
expression to its ministry of mercy and justice,
mobilizing the congregation for this ministry
with its members, its community, and its world.
The diaconate is vital in helping the church and
its members do neighboring with its community
well.

19. HDC’s Diaconal Resources Page on the web @ http://hdccrc.org/resources

20. Additional Resources
1. When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
2. Helping Without Hurting in Short-term Missions by Steve Corbett
and Brian Fikkert
3. Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence by Steve Corbett
and Brian Fikkert
4. Joining God, Remaking Church, and Changing the World by Alan J.
Roxburgh
4. Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton
5. Charity Detox by Robert Lupton
Books:

21. Add’l Resources cont.
6. CRC Network
www.network.crcna.org/deacons
7. Diaconal Ministries Canada,
www.diaconalministries.com/resources
8. Holland Deacons Conference, West Mich. Lakeshore
https://hdccrc.org/resources/
9. Volunteers In Service, Greater Grand Rapids
http://visgr.org/index.php/equipping/deacons
10. Volunteers in Action, Denver
http://www.volunteersinaction.info/?page_id=313
Websites:

22. Videos:
11.Helping Without Hurting: Reconsidering the Meaning of
Poverty @ bit.ly/HWH_Poverty
11.ABCD Overview webinar by Wendy McCaig of Community
Way @ bit.ly/ABCDOverview
11.Biblical Justice Videos from LIVE JUSTLY @
www.livejust.ly/videos/
11.Embracing Meaningful Supports for Individuals with
Developmental Disabilities in Faith Communities by Rev.
William Gaventa @ bit.ly/SupportsFaithCommunities
Note: Links to all underlined websites, books, and videos can be accessed by
downloading and opening the PowerPoint at bit.ly/HDCDeaconOrientation