Becoming a Trustee/Deacon

Serving as a Leadership Team member (Trustee /Deacon)

What is a Trustee and a Deacon?Bible
A Deacon is an elected member of the church’s Leadership Team (Diaconate). The Greek word diákonos means ‘servant’. Their role is to serve, enable and, with the Church Members’ Meeting, govern the church so that we thrive in our God-given mission and ministry.  Goodshaw Baptist Church is also a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and as such requires Trustees to oversee the charity. Therefore, Deacons are also known as trustees.

The trustees comprise: the minister (if we have one), the treasurer, the church secretary and up to 7 church members.
 
Legal Responsibilities
Because Goodshaw Baptist Church is a Registered Charity, each Deacon also serves as a Trustee.  This means, as Trustees, Deacons collectively have the overall legal responsibility for all that happens in the name of Goodshaw Baptist Church (Charitable Incorporated Institution).
 
Accountability
As a Baptist church, we are congregational. Deacons are elected by the Church Members and operate under delegated authority from the Church Members’ Meeting.
 
This means Deacons are accountable to God, the Church Membership, and the Charity Commission.

(Scripture)
'For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus' 1 Timothy 3:13


What are the qualifications for a Deacon?

Deacons are members of the spiritual leadership of a church.  You won’t be the ‘perfect’ Christian (who is?) but you must have a personal commitment to living as a disciple of Christ. Others will see Christ in you. We positively welcome diversity of age, ethnicity, disability and gender.

You will need to be nominated by two church members (proposer and seconder) and then be accepted by a vote at the Church Members’ Meeting.

Legally a Charity Trustee must:
Not be under 18 years of age;
Not have been disqualified as a company director;
Not have an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception (e.g. fraud);
Not be bankrupt, or have a current composition or arrangement including an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) with creditors;
Not have been removed as a trustee of any charity by the Charity Commission (or court).

What’s the commitment?
Deacons serve for a term of three years.
Meet monthly as a Leadership Team (Diaconate) – 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7.00-9.00pm;
Pray with and care for people;
Work with the leadership team to implement the decisions of the Church Members’ Meeting;
Be active and present at Sunday worship and Church Members’ Meetings;
Assist in serving communion on a Sunday.
 
Interested?
Great! Paul said, ‘If anyone sets their heart on being an overseer (leader), they desire a noble task.’ [1 Timothy 3:1]
 
To explore if this is for you:
Maybe, chat informally with one or two of the current Leadership Team to hear their experience.
Finally, contact Church Secretary to register your decision to stand.
e: secretary@goodshawbaptistchurch.org