Duties of the Deaconess
The ministry to which a person is called when she becomes a deaconess includes the following duties:
- Report to Head Deaconess. Deaconess will assist in maintaining the smooth operation of church meetings. Any needs and/or concerns should be reported to the Head Deaconess as soon as possible so that they could be addressed in an adequate manner. A quarterly meeting is to be scheduled by the Head Deaconess to address various issues and provide training.
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Head Deaconess will coordinate fellowship meals. The assigned deaconesses will be responsible for the following items:
- Warm-up and serve food for fellowship dinners.
- They will make sure that the tables are covered with tablecloths.
- They will ensure that the dishes are washed and the kitchen is clean after everyone is finished.
- Visitation. Head Deaconess will coordinate deaconesses (and other interested church members) to provide card and visitation ministry to church members who are shut-in, sick, etc.
- Workbees. Deaconesses will help when cleaning workbees are called for the church or school.
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Assisting with the Baptismal Ceremony. The traditional roles for this service are described below:
- The deacons will:
- Prepare and fill the pool.
- Assist male candidates as they prepare for the baptism.
- The deaconesses will:
- Prepare the robes for all who are participating.
- Assist female candidates.
- Launder and store robes, towels, etc., after the ceremony.
- The deacons will:
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Assisting with the Communion Service. The traditional roles for this service are described below.
- The deacons will:
- Provide the physical arrangements, such as placing the communion table.
- Place the towels, basins and water in the appropriate rooms for use in the Ordinance of Humility.
- Dispense water and basins for the men during the Ordinance of Humility, giving particular attention to visitors and new members.
- The deaconesses will:
- Prepare the bread and grape juice.
- Arrange the emblems and covering on the table.
- Dispense water and basins for the women during the Ordinance of Humility, giving attention and assistance to visitors, new members, and the aged.
- Clean and store the linens and serving pieces used in Communion.
- It is appropriate for either deacons or deaconesses, who have been ordained, to assist in distributing the emblems and removing/placing back the communion tray covers during the service.
- The deacons will:
- Caring for the Congregation. In many churches an unwritten tradition gives the women who serve as deaconesses the responsibility of preparing hot meals for any church family that experiences a death or other tragedy. This may mean simply taking food to the home or, in some cases, the serving of an entire meal to family and guests after a funeral. The funeral meal will be coordinated by the Head Deaconess.