First Congregational Church of Southampton

First Congregational Church of Southampton
United Church of Christ
212 College Highway, P.O. Box 145
Southampton, MA 01073
Phone: (413) 527-1173

Diaconate

From the Bylaws:
The Diaconate(Board of Deacons) shall consist of nine members each elected for a term of three years. Three members shall be chosen by ballot at the Annual Meeting. Following each term of office there shall elapse one full year before the members can be re-election; but this provision shall not apply to a member who served less than three years before his term expired. The board shall elect a chairman and a secretary.

Responsibilities

The primary mission of the Diaconate is to share responsibility with the minister in the promotion of, and the caring for the spiritual growth of the church. For each Deacon, this mission includes individual and group participation in the following responsibilities:
1. Administration of the church lay ministry program bringing those who may be separated from the regular activities of the church for reasons of illness, age or infirmity into its comforting care through the assurance of the continuation of the Called To Care Task Force.
2. Promotion of church membership and the welcoming of new members.
3. Recommendations to the Church Council regarding individual membership status, new members and the transfer of members to inactive status.
4. Preparation and administration of the elements of communion once each month.
5. Participation as a lay reader at worship services.
6. Assistance to minister in sacrament of baptism.
7. Arrangements for substitute minister as needed.
8. Response to any laity concerns regarding the conduct of the worship service.
9. Provision of support for minister and family.
10. Maintaining a liaison with the religious education programs.
11. Initiation of the actions outlined in the Church By-Laws for the search for a new minister in the event of the need to replace the current minister.
12. Administration of the Memorial Fund.
13. Approval of requests for use of the church sanctuary by unaffiliated individuals.
14. Implementation of all annual review process of the Pastor and Ministries of the church. The process shall include the collection of data, the review of the data and the mutual setting of goals and objectives by the church and the pastor.
15. Attendance at monthly Diaconate meetings.
16. Attendance at the annual Diaconate retreat.
17. Participation in the planning for the Diaconate retreat-if scheduled.
18. Collection of monthly Deacon Fund donations through assistance in envelope distribution.
19. Assistance in preparation of annual Ushers list.
20. Evaluation and recommendation of Church Members seeking ministerial standing.