The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-16
THE DACONATE

The resolutions found below will not
only show the views of some in our
Church concerning the office and func-
tlons of the deacon, but also the connec-
ton of this subject with the movement
for a change of the plan of conducting
the benevolent enterprises of the Church.
AT the late meeting of the Synod of
South Carolina, the Rev. Dr. Girardeau
read the third and final report from the
Special Committee on the Nature and
Functions of the Diaconate.
On motion, the report was accepted
and the thanks of Synod were returned
to the Committee for its extensive and
valuable labors in preparing these re-
ports.
The following paper, presented by the
Committee as the conclusion of the re-
port, was docketed for consideration at
the next meeting of Synod:
We respectfully submit to the SYNOD for its
action, the following resolutions, in which the
principal results of the foregoing discussion are
summarily embodied:
/. That the deacon belongs to a different
order from the elder from which position it
follows: first that the higher office of presbvter
does not include the lower Office of deacon
secondly, that those two offices should be kent
distinct; thirdly, that whenever, from the lowest
70 the highest OF our courts the proper duties of
the deacon are to be discharged, the deacon and
not the presbyter, should be employed; and this
applies to the treasurers of ecclesiastical funds
to the Executive Committees of all our Courts,
and to any Board which has only DIAGONAL func
tions to discharge IN which case only deacons
should be members fourthly, that when special
efforts to raise funds are to be made within CON
gregatlonal bounds, wherever the DIAGONAL func.
ton legltmately comes in, the deacon should
be employed
2 That the Session has the power of rule
over persons, and over ecclesiastical things. so
far as personal rights, duties, and interests are
involved; and the Board of Deacons has power
over these things apart from such relations and
under responsibility to the Session. Moreover.
that 1T is legitimate for the deacons to make re.
Communications to the Session touching DIAGONAL
work
3. That the scope of the deacons functions
includes: first, the care of the poor viz. the
poor of the Church, and, as far as the ability of
the Church admits, the poor of the world, and
strangers; secondly, the management of eccle
slastical stipends, goods, and property Mirdlv,
collections for congregation purposes, and the
temporal support of the benevolent enterprises
and the institutions of the Church; and that the
churches under our care are exhorted, as soon
as it may be practicable, to conform their prac-
tlce to this view of the scope of DIAGONAL func-
tons.
4. That the functions of the deacon are not
confined to the particular congregation of which
he is an officer, but may, at the call of the high
er courts extend to the wider sphere of the
Church at large.
B. That so far the Executive Committees
and Boards of Directors of the General Assembly
have functions of presbyteral character to
discharge, they should consist of Presbyters
but so far as their work calls for the performance
Of DIAGONAL functions a board of deacons or at
least deacon, should be appointed to act in
co1nexion with each of them, to be suiect to such
responsibilities as the Assembly may determine
that the treasurers of these Committees and
Boards of Directors should be deacons and that
this holds, Dautotis nutandis, in regard to the
Executive Committees and Boards of Directors.
having DIAGONAL functions to perform, which
may be appointed by Synods and Presbyteries.
6. That the Board of Trustees of the General
Assembly, having only functions of a DIAGONAL
nature to discharge, should be composed only of
deacons and that the same holds of similar
Boards appointed by the other courts Of the
Church.