Deacon(s) of Technology
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
We live in a day and age where technology is a useful and powerful tool to help us connect and communicate as a society. There is no part of our modern society and cultural context that does not depend on technology in these ways. Therefore, as a church, we seek to wield the tool of technology in a way that not only helps us accomplish these same goals, but to do so in a God honoring way. To use technology well in any organization and especially in the church requires expertise, vigilance, godly character, patience, and faithfulness, as we utilize technology to help us spread the Gospel, teach the Word, gather as the church, communicate well with our members, and operate cohesively, efficiently, and effectively as a church leadership and membership.
 
Ministry Description:

  • Ensure that all our audio and video systems are functional and useful
  • Routinely examine our existing audio and video systems and determine when maintenance, repairs, and upgrades might be necessary
  • Provide training and practical help to church leaders and members who need to use any audio or video systems throughout the building
  • Help our church staff and members utilize communication networks and software platforms
  • Create processes for safeguarding vital data and information
  • Help troubleshoot computer problems so that all computer systems are fully functional
  • Make recommendations for information technology upgrades and purchases

Term:
This deacon position would last two years and would work closely with the worship pastor with Audio/Video and the church administrator with Information Technology

Deacon(s) of Local Outreach
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
Throughout the Scriptures, God calls His people to a life of love and good works accompanied by the proclamation of the good news of the gospel. Jesus told His followers to let their light shine so that others would see their good works and glorify God (Matt. 5:14-16). In the famous parable of the good Samaritan, He showed that a life of caring mercy was exemplary for God’s people (Luke 10. Paul called upon Christians to do good to one another and to all (1 Thess. 5:15; Gal. 6:10). And James picks up the teaching of the prophets calling on Christians to watch out for the orphan and widow (Jas. 1:27). But these good works glorify God because we’re speaking of Him and His saving grace as the motivation for our service. As disciple makers (Matt. 28:19), witnesses to the gospel (Acts 1:8), and ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20), Christians always proclaim the crucified and risen Savior as the answer to man’s deepest problems. Even when we’re using our lives and resources to meet physical needs, we’re always seeking to give Christ as the answer to the deepest spiritual need that all people share.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon(s) of local outreach to help organize and facilitate systems and ministries by which ITC members can exercise compassion in our city and proclaim the gospel faithfully. This deacon position will focus largely (although not exclusively) on ITC’s relationships with local outreach organizations that the elders have identified like the Union Gospel Mission and Strong Families. The deacon(s) will coordinate opportunities for service teams, special projects, and individual involvement while also using ITC channels to communicate these to our congregation.

Term:
This deacon position will last one year.

 

Deacon(s) of Widow Care
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
God has always called His people to reflect His righteous and merciful character by caring for the vulnerable. In the Old Testament, four classifications of vulnerable people dominate the storyline, the instructions in the law, and the rebukes and exhortations of the prophets: widows, orphans, sojourners, and the poor. In the New Testament, James carries this value over to Christian believers by saying that true religion is to “care for orphans and widows in their distress” (Jas. 1:27). When Paul writes to Timothy as he pastored at Ephesus, he gives clear and detailed instructions for the care of widows within the body. And, if Acts 6 does indeed give us the first impetus in the Christian church for deacon ministry, then the very office originated to care for widows. A church ought to reflect God’s righteousness and mercy by caring for widows in the body.  

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon(s) of widow care to help the body meet physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs of our widows. The New Testament first portrays a concern for widows’ physical sustenance. Where financial, housing, healthcare, or food needs exist, the deacon(s) of widow care will play the lead role in presenting needs to our body and soliciting help to meet them. In addition to the physical needs of widows, the deacon(s) of widow care will also concern themselves with the emotional, relational, and spiritual needs of ITC widows. A sister who has lost her husband may well have lost income and much support in the physical realm. But her experience may be marked even more by loneliness or difficulty engaging with other believers on her own. Our deacon(s) of widow care can help facilitate connection and care within the body through hospitality and …  The deacon(s) of widow care would commit to contact each ITC widow at least once a month.

Although not addressed specifically in the New Testament, we also ask the deacon(s) of widow care to care for widowers. The focus on widows in the New Testament primarily deals on the assumption that widows would have no means by which to care for themselves. Because we’re also focusing on the emotional and spiritual needs of widows, this same care can apply to men who have lost their wives.
Term: This deacon position would last one year.

Deacon(s) of Finance
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
God calls His people throughout the Bible to give to the work of the Lord as an act of worship and obedience. The giving of His people accomplishes many of His purposes in this world. Churches use the money that God’s people give to (among other things) pay pastors and gospel workers to lead local church ministry (1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Cor. 9:13-14), provide for the physical operation of the body, support other gospel work through local churches (Phil. 4:14-16; 2 Cor. 11:8), provide relief to other churches in need (1 Cor. 16), send missionaries to plant and pastor new local churches in unreached places (3 John 5-8; Tit. 3:13-14; Rom. 15:19-24), and provide for its widows and poor (Acts 2:45, 4:32-35, 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:3-16).

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon(s) of finance to aid the elders by stewarding financial information, reporting, and distribution (if necessary). The deacon will work to keep the elders informed as to the giving, budgeting, and spending of ITC so that they can lead the congregation with accurate financial information. This deacon must be comfortable and responsible dealing with the financial information of the church and have skills and background in this area.
Term: This deacon position would last two years. We would hope to have two deacons of finance serving together with offset starting dates to foster consistency in transition when working with accounting contracted services, bank accounts, signer privileges, etc.

Deacon(s) of Ordinances
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
The ordinances instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ (baptism and the Lord’s Supper) physically portray the gospel and allow believers to express and renew their faithful and devotion to Christ. The ordinances also bind believers together and mark them off from the world. They are, therefore, vitally important for the ongoing health of the local church. Normally, the teaching and leading of the ordinances is done by a church’s elders. But the facilitation of these ordinances would ideally be handled by a deacon. This will take a burden of administration off of the pastors’ plates in order for them to focus on preparing participants spiritually for the celebration of the ordinances.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call a deacon(s) of the ordinances to aid the elders and serve the congregation in facilitating the logistical concerns of ITC’s celebration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. For baptisms, this deacon will ensure the baptismal is in place, filled, and readied with towels on any Sunday morning a baptism has been scheduled. He or she will also have the responsibility of draining the baptismal and storing it following the given Sunday morning. They will also contact the person planning for baptism to instruct them on proper clothing, change of clothes, what time to arrive, and where in the service their baptism will fit. For the Lord’s Supper, the ordinances deacon will manage a schedule of bread bakers who prepare the bread each week. He or she will also fill the cups with bread and wine prior to each Sunday worship gathering, or manage a schedule of volunteers to do the same. The storage and cleaning of utensils used in communion service will also be entrusted to this deacon.
Term: This deacon position would last one year.

Deacon(s) of Member Care
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
Christ’s central command to His followers was to exhibit a kind of love for one another which would demonstrate His own love for us and validate the gospel to the world. The primary place this love finds its expression is in the church. Brothers and sisters in local churches are to bear burdens for one another (Gal. 6:1) and care about each individual saint (1 Cor. 12:26). In a larger congregation, the needs of one member may not be immediately visible to all of the members who are called to care about him. For this reason, the deacon(s) of member care will aid the elders and serve the congregation by facilitating knowledge of and opportunity to meet needs within the body of Christ.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon(s) of member care to help facilitate ITC members’ opportunities to care for one another in practical needs. The deacon(s) will coordinate meal assignments for those who have had hospital stays, babies, or other circumstances where provided meals would be a blessing. He or she will coordinate rides for elderly or infirm members who are unable to drive to appointments or come to church on Sunday mornings. The deacon(s) of member care will accomplish this through the use of email, Church Center, announcement at worship gatherings or members’ meetings, or any other means deemed necessary.
Term: This deacon position will last one year.

Deacon(s) of Weddings/Funerals
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
The celebration of weddings and funerals allows the body of Christ to celebrate and rejoice together on the one hand and grieve and mourn together on the other. Weddings visibly portray the covenant union between Christ and His church. Funerals allow friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ grieve with the unique hope of the gospel. While shedding tears for death and loss, we look forward to resurrection and renewal in Christ. While our pastoral staff will always play a large role in these ceremonies, a deacon(s) can help take the practical concerns off of their plates so they might focus on ministering comfort to the bereaved and gospel truth to those who gather.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon(s) of weddings and funerals to coordinate practical elements of these ceremonies to serve our members and alleviate logistical burdens from our pastors. The deacon will:
* Serve as point of contact for the engaged couple or the grieving family
* Sit in with pastor(s) during planning meetings with the couple or family
* Coordinate elements like building access, sound needs, video, musical   accompaniment, funeral homes, etc.
* Secure necessary resources not provided by the couple or family
Term: This deacon position would last two years.

Deacon(s) of Facilities
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
The facilities and grounds at ITC are both a blessing and trust. The Lord has given them to us in His great mercy to house the people of God in worship each Lord’s day, the ongoing fellowship and discipleship of our members during the week, and a place of work and study for those called to serve the flock in pastoral ministry. Because of the enormous blessing and high uses of the building and grounds of ITC, a deacon dedicated to their upkeep will both serve and aid the body of Christ, and free ITC’s pastors from the practical concerns of upkeep and maintenance.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon of facilities to lead in the overall care, upkeep and maintenance of the ITC facility and grounds. His or her duties include:
* Ensure the facilities are well maintained conducting proactive steps for upkeep and improvement.
* Oversee any renovations, refurbishments, and building projects.
* Work with and keep records of contractors and outside resources used in order to maintain continuity with the next deacon filling this role.
* Manage, train, and utilize ITC members who want to use their skills to help in the upkeep and improvement of our building and grounds.
* Ensure our building’s compliance with local government regulations.
* Forecast future building/grounds needs and expenditures
* Deal with facilities emergencies as they arise (i.e., broken pipes, leaking roof, etc.)
Term: This deacon position would last two years. We would hope to have two deacons of facilities serving together with offset starting dates to foster consistency in transition when working with contracted services, etc.

Deacon(s) of Children’s/Childcare
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
The Scriptures tell us that children are a gift from the Lord. He entrusts children to parents to raise in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4) so that they might grow up into salvation and walk in faith, love, and holiness (1 Tim. 2:15). As a part of a local body of believers, parents are aided in their task by others proclaiming Christ to their kids and caring for them in various settings of church life. Until parents determine their child is ready to worship with the whole body of Christ, we offer ministry to children during the main gatherings of our body. These times serve parents and kids by supplementing the gospel-centered discipling children are receiving at home.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call deacon(s) of Children’s ministry to coordinate ministry to ITC’s children. This coordination will include recruiting, vetting, preparing, and scheduling teachers and leaders in Sunday morning classrooms, operating and maintaining classroom check-in systems, partnering with ITC pastors to develop and implement classroom curriculum, providing childcare for membership classes and members’ meetings, maintaining Sunday School classrooms, developing and implementing best practices for safety and security, and seeking always to find new ways to evangelize and disciple kids at ITC.
Term: This deacon position will last one year


Deacon(s) of Visitation
Rationale for this Deacon Position:
Because the physical presence in fellowship is such a high value in the New Testament, believers have always valued gathering together. This gathering mainly happens every Lord’s day as the church gathers for worship. But true fellowship with other believers can also happen in homes and in special instances of needed encouragement. Because the whole body is to extend care and fellowship to all of its members, a deacon of visitation is needed to facilitate connection with those members who are temporarily separated from the gathering of the saints on the Lord’s day.

Ministry Description:
The congregation will call the deacon(s) of visitation to help organize and facilitate a system by which ITC members can engage in visiting those temporarily estranged from our corporate gatherings, or those in need of specific encouragement in a given situation. This deacon position will focus largely (although not exclusively) on ITC’s shut-ins, and those who have stays in hospitals or convalescent centers. The deacon(s) will coordinate visit needs and schedules, and put these out via email, Church Center, announcement in our corporate gatherings, or others means deemed necessary.
Term: This deacon position will last one year.