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Ellicott Baptist Church Page 27
A.
The Deacons will act as a standing Pulpit Committee. Other men may be selected by the Deacons,
subject to the approval by the majority vote of the Church. The total number shall not exceed five men.
B.
The Chairman of Deacons shall automatically be Chairman of the Pulpit
Committee. He shall invite to the pulpit
of the church some minister of good report who is in accordance with and meets
the requirements of the Constitution and By-laws. He shall be in accordance with the Articles
of Faith. An interview is
recommended. No person shall be invited
to the pulpit of the church in said case without consent of a majority of
Pulpit Committee. Earnest prayer,
seeking the will of our Lord, should be
made preceding such an invitation.
C.
It shall be announced at least one week prior to the meeting that the
visiting speaker is a candidate for the office of pastor. On the recommendation of the pulpit committee
the time of voting will be announced.
D.
A three-fourths majority of members present and voting shall be
necessary for the calling of a pastor.
SECTION 3: DEACONS, DUTIES
A.
The word translated Deacon, in the King James Bible, means servant,
attendant, aide, waiter, etc. The Greek
word translated "Deacon" in I
Tim. 3:10, 13, means "to be an attendant, to wait upon" (menially or
as a host or friend). The Greek words
translated "Deacon" in Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:8, 12 are given to
mean "one who runs errands, an attendant, a waiter" (at tables or
any other menial duties), specifically to a Christian teacher and pastor (definitions taken from James Strong's
Concordance with Greek Dictionary of the New Testament). In Acts 6:1-4, the first servants were chosen
by the church and were appointed to their tasks by the overseers of the church
for the purpose of performing such tasks as would free those in charge of the
services for prayer and the study of the Word.
Therefore, because this Church accepts the Scriptures as final
authority, rather than tradition, the office of Deacon shall not in any way be
taken to mean authority over the Church and Pastor.