Happy New Year! Beginning today, January 2nd we are taking nominations for the office of deacon and will do so through Sunday, Jan. 17th.
*Please read the following before making a nomination.
How Leadership at New Valley Church works:
New Valley is a church in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The word “Presbyterian” comes directly from the New Testament Greek word, “presbuteros” which means, “elder”, overseer or pastor. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul planted new churches throughout the Roman Empire, and as he did he trained men for the office of elder and both men and women (we believe) to serve the church as deacons (For an article on this subject read HERE). Elders provide spiritual oversight and care of the church, and the deacons are tasked with meeting the physical, and mercy oriented needs of the body. New Valley Church and the PCA denomination believe and follow this scriptural model for church leadership. The current elders who are actively serving Downtown are Gray Ewing, Rob Withem, Ari Supomo and Jon Fuller. We hope to launch our deacon team in Spring of this year!
DEACON NOMINATION PROCESS
The process of becoming a deacon at New Valley Church begins with a nomination by a member of New Valley, includes training/apprenticing, testing by the elders, and finally an election by the members of the church. We are looking for men and women who are already demonstrating a "deacons heart" without the title.
A nominee for deacon needs to be actively demonstrating a heart of compassion for the mercy needs for the people at New Valley and the community at large.
Nominees must be nominated by at least two members.
Nominees must have been members for at least a year (preferably two or more).
If the nominee is not a Surge School Graduate, the first step in their training would be to begin there (See info about Surge School HERE). *Please note, you CAN nominate someone who has not been through surge school, but that will be the start of their training.
Those nominees who have already graduated from Surge School will go through deacon training.
After training and testing the candidates are brought to the church members for questions and election during a congregational meeting.
BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR DEACONS
1 Timothy 3:8–13
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. [9] They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. [10] And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. [11] Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. [12] Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. [13] For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
