LEADERSHIP

An elder is a recognized, God-called servant-leader in Jesus’ church, equipped with the head, heart, hands, and home of a spiritual shepherd, who serves alongside other elders in the church.

A deacon is a recognized, God-called ministry leader in Jesus’ church, equipped with the head, heart, hands, and home of a spiritual servant, who serves alongside other deacons and under the spiritual leadership of the elders in the church.

The primary spiritual leaders of a local church are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders shepherd the flock through the ministry of God’s Word and prayer (Acts 6:4, c.f. Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17). Deacons also have a crucial role in the life and health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’.

The biblical role of the deacons is to act as the elders’ agents to lead and administrate the church’s ministries according to the elders’ direction. Therefore, the scope and kind of deacon ministry is as varied as could be assigned by the elders. Because both elders and deacons are spiritual leaders in the church, they both possess leadership giftings and seek to equip and serve the saints for ministry. So truly the work of a biblical deacon is not limited to custodial service and facilities!

Scripture reveals some real distinctions between elders and deacons: elders are only male (1 Tim. 2:12-3:7; c.f. 1 Cor. 14:34), while deacons may be male or female (1 Tim. 3:11; Rom. 16:1). The elder’s
appointment transcends culture and is permanent, while a deacon’s appointment may be culturally-specific and temporary. According to Acts 6:4, elders focus primarily on spiritual priorities, while deacons may focus on both spiritual and physical leadership priorities within the church. Elders must be gifted to teach according to 1 Tim. 3:2, while deacons may or may not be gifted to teach.