A weekend retreat at a resort surrounded by nature can be a tremendous blessing to the deacons and deaconesses. It is a time for them to bond with each other, and with the pastor also. Ideally, this would follow a Sabbath service that emphasizes the ministry of deacons and deaconesses, such as Deacon and Deaconess Day, when the congregation is educated about the role of these officers and the importance of training and empowering them.
The purpose of the retreat is to seek God’s vision for the deacon and deaconess board, develop a vision statement, a mission statement, and establish goals and objectives. According to James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, “visions are statements of destination, of the ends of our labor; they are therefore future-oriented and are made real over different spans of time.”1 In other words, the vision statement is what these officers aspire to be. The mission statement is how they will make it a reality. Following is an example of a vision statement, a mission statement, and goals and objectives for deacons and deaconesses:
VISION STATEMENT
The deacons and deaconesses of the ____________ Seventh-day Adventist Church are filled with the Holy Spirit, are teachers and preachers, students of God’s Word, soul winners, and prayer warriors, ministering to the sick and needy, maintaining order in the church, and being of one accord.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the deacons and deaconesses of the __________ Seventh-day Adventist Church is to serve its members and community—especially those who are most vulnerable—by providing for their emergency physical, social, and spiritual needs, addressing relational problems in the church, and teaching and preaching God’s Word through public and personal evangelism. We will lead people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and disciple newly baptized church members. We will visit, assess needs, and network with departments within the church and agencies in the community in order to accomplish our mission. We will be responsible for maintaining the upkeep of the church and its properties. We will engage in ongoing personal development through prayer and the study of the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and other relevant materials so that we might become better persons who are better equipped to glorify God and serve humanity.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Conduct a survey to identify who are the “most vulnerable” individuals mentioned in the mission statement. Define their needs. Develop ministries to meet those needs. Contact social service agencies in the community and invite their representatives to come and speak to the board of deacons and deaconesses; find out what services they offer to assist these individuals, and how the deacons and deaconesses can network with them. Identify both human and financial resources of the church that can assist in meeting the needs of these “most vulnerable” individuals.
Below is a suggested outline of events for a weekend deacon and deaconess retreat. Arrive at the resort on a Friday afternoon, in time to get set up and finish supper before time for vesper. Adjust this outline as needed.
1 James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2002), 130.
Vincent E. White Sr., DMin, is a retired pastor and author of The TwentyFirst Century Deacon and Deaconess: Reflecting the Biblical Model, The Twenty-First Century Deacon and Deaconess: Reflecting the Biblical Model Workbook, and Problem Solvers and Soul Winners: A Handbook for Deacons and Deaconesses.
