The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Local Presbyterian church policies - officers

Being in the OPC a man needs to be a member of the church for a year before becoming an elder. That's in our "black book."

The one I have a problem with (perhaps because it would apply to me) is the requirement that they be a deacon first. The diaconate is not a "stepping stone" to the eldership. While it is true that it happens often that deacons get called by their congregations to be elders, i don't see it as a biblical mandate that it must be this way. They are two separate offices and should be treated as such. While certainly not ideal, a church can function without deacons, but cannot without elders.

When I was going through the classes after my nomination I came to realize my gifts were better suited for the eldership (I was nominated for both). I never did ask the person who nominated me for deacon what they saw in me to move them to nominate me because others said they saw my gifts more for the eldership.