http://reformeddeacon.com/authors/orthodox-presbyterian-church/ Recent content in Orthodox Presbyterian Church on Readings in the Reformed Diaconate Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us http://reformeddeacon.com/opc-book-of-church-order-deacons/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/opc-book-of-church-order-deacons/ Full Text Chapter XI: Deacons The Scriptures designate the office of deacon as distinct and perpetual in the church. Deacons are called to show forth the compassion of Christ in a manifold ministry of mercy toward the saints and strangers on behalf of the church. To this end they exercise, in the fellowship of the church, a recognized stewardship of care and of gifts for those in need or distress. http://reformeddeacon.com/principles-for-the-ministry-of-mercy/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/principles-for-the-ministry-of-mercy/ Excerpt Following the example of our Savior, who though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that we by His poverty might become rich, it is the duty of all saintsto be hospitable and to come to the aid of one another in material things, according totheir various abilities and necessities. The deacons should encourage members of the church to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share in order to provide for those in want, especially those in the household of faith, such provision to include not only monetary gifts or tangible gifts in kind (i. http://reformeddeacon.com/principles-of-diaconal-ministry/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/principles-of-diaconal-ministry/ Excerpt Diaconal ministry adorns the gospel when it provides tangible evidence of the love of God and of his messengers for the lost of this world. Indeed, in certain circumstances of extreme hardship the ministry of the Word can be virtually unintelligible apart from a ministry of deed. http://reformeddeacon.com/opc-report/ Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/opc-report/ Excerpt Para-ecclesiastical relief groups, while serving a crucial purpose at present, should actively implement a practical plan for the transfer of their ministries to churches—either through regular diaconal channels or through diaconal evangelism ministries to unevangelized populations of suffering people.