By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

The Wake Forest University mascot is known as the Demon Deacons. I once asked a Baptist friend why such a designation was chosen for a Christian institution of higher learning. He scratched his head, wrinkled his brow as he pondered the question, and finally answered, "Well, a school mascot is supposed to inspire fear and terror in the opposing team."

Since a preacher probably founded Wake Forest, it really makes sense. To a preacher, the most frightening creatures on earth are demons and deacons. I guess the old preacher figured that nothing could inspire fear as much as a combination of those two.

I hasten to say that, in my previous church in a former denominational life, the deacons that served, with two or three notable exceptions, were some of the finest, most supportive men I have ever known. But, like the mythical preacher alluded to earlier, there were times in the past, at other churches, when it was hard to tell the demon from the deacon.

It is a cherished and well-guarded secret among many Protestant pastors that the devil doesn't do nearly as much damage to the Kingdom of God as do the members of the governing board of the church.

Leadership magazine printed a cartoon several years ago that accurately captured how many ministers view their relationship with their boards of deacons, elders, or whatever. The cartoon pictured a battleship departing port for the open sea. The pastor, wearing a captain's hat, is standing on the bow, pointing ahead to the challenges that lay beyond the horizon, and declaring, "Full steam ahead!" The deacons are at the stern of the ship, throwing out the anchor.

Whatever they may say in public or to their board members, many, if not most, of the nation's pastors feel that progress comes in spite of, and not because of, church boards. In fact, books have been written and seminars taught advising pastors how to move their church into the future in spite of foot-dragging boards.

Most of the pastors that I have known who have contemplated retirement from active church ministry have shared that the one thing they look forward to in retirement is fulfilling their ministry (preaching, teaching, counseling, and so on) without having their lives dissected and micromanaged by boards.

Deacons (henceforth used to signify church board members in most Protestant churches, regardless of what they may be called in a given situation) hire pastors, set their salaries, control their schedule, discipline pastors, and fire them. The New Testament knows nothing of such responsibilities being given to deacons.

In fact, the deacon as now understood by most in the Bible belt and beyond, did not exist for most of the history of the church. In the New Testament, the word translated deacon means, a waiter of tables; a servant who serves others. Deacons served, they preached, they led people to Christ, and they suffered martyrdom. But they did not rule. No board of deacons ever had the opportunity to fire an apostle, a bishop, or a pastor.

For 1,000 years the Church was one; then in 1054 A.D., it became two, with the tragic split between East and West. In the 1500s, however, the Protestant De-formation began in earnest. Today, some 40,000 different denominations dot the landscape, most having delivered to deacons a supervising, controlling role.

A deacon, in the historic pre-De-formation tradition, neither was nor is a lay position, as in most Protestant communions. A deacon's ministry in that tradition, which includes Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican communions, among others, is, and was, one of liturgical and pastoral service and involves charitable works of mercy.

A deacon, far from being a terminator of pastors, is a member of the clergy and is to assist the presider at the Eucharist (Holy Communion), make prayers of intercession for the people, invite and exhort people to pray, preside at celebrations where there is no priest, administer certain sacraments, bless objects and people within certain liturgical celebrations, proclaim and preach the Word of God, witness to and win people to Christ, and assist the bishop in episcopal and cathedral services.

The deacon may be asked to conduct inquirers' classes, prepare families for Holy Baptism, read the Gospel at liturgies, and preach. At the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, the deacon, is to prepare the altar, carry the Gospel in the procession, and assist in Incensation and sprinkling. The deacon is most often the person who ends the worship services with the dismissal.

Pastoral care of the aged, the sick and the dying, is, historically, a prominent activity of deacons. Deacons were so trusted and valued that they were often chosen to serve as the bishop's confidant and bodyguard. In history, deacons were often known as the bishop's men. That's quite a far cry from the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest.

During the last five years of my ministry, I have been privileged to serve with several of these historic tradition deacons, faithful men who are servants to the church and true friends to the pastor men who would rather pray than rule. It excites me tremendously to discover that, in spite of the prevailing culture, it is possible to return deacons to their God-ordained role. Strangely these days, I find myself praying, O Lord, give me more deacons! I bet that's a prayer that the founder of Wake Forest never prayed!

[David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Peachtree City. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]

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