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For Deacons  |  December 2018
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Please forward to all Deacons in your church.

For Deacons is a joint effort with Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC). DMC has a rich heritage of supporting deacons through its network of regionally based Diaconal Ministry Developers.

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Reflection

Inspiration for the Deacon From Diakonia Remixed

This reflection is taken from the 2015 CRCNA Synod Taskforce report called Diakonia Remixed.

As part of the biblical foundations for its recommendations, the taskforce looked at some of the CRC's foundational documents and creeds laying down the basis for dramatic changes in the role deacons play at all levels of church life in the CRCNA.

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Tips & Tools

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Orientation Resources for Deacon Leadership

This article, which looks at the calling placed on the deacons of the CRC and RCA, provides ideas as to how good orientation can be accomplished.

The intent of this article, which links to additional resources, is to help deacons fulfill their leadership role by implementing healthy practices that will sustain that leadership. It should not take deacons two years to figure out what their role is but from the start they should be encouraged and inspired to live out the call to office:

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Principles for Healthy Community Engagement

How do we listen well when we connect with our church's neighbors and context? Everyone is talking about not doing harm when it comes to caring for needs in our place of ministry, but how do we ensure that?

Here is an article along with some resource links that will serve as a guide in establishing clear values for engaging well with our communities.

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On the Network

Disabilities and Deacons: Defining Disability

About 20 percent of the population in North America lives with a disability. To minister well with people who have disabilities, we need to understand the wide range of disability and the ways in which all of us can unintentionally exclude people with disabilities from the life and ministry of our churches.

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Deacons' Meetings

So, what do I do first? Go to meetings; make a plan; schedule offerings. The Deacon’s Handbook gives you enough in these two-and-a-half pages to get you started. It’ll show you the big picture in clear and practical steps.

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Deacons Connect

Got a question about diaconal work? Ask your fellow deacons!

Here are some recent questions and discussions:

Resources

Remember to check out these resources dedicated to your support.

Andrew Ryskamp is acting editor of this resource. Andrew is retired from World Renew after working as diaconal ministries director for 13 years and as executive co-director for 17 years. You can contact him with questions or suggestions at andrewryskamp@crcna.org.
Here is an easy access to earlier issues of For Deacons.
For Deacons Archives: View Past Issues
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