What Are Deacons?

The biblical office of deacon is not as highly esteemed today as it has been in the past. Today's deacons tend to be administration and board oriented, given to meetings more than to ministry. But the diaconate is intended to be the spiritual "office of love" (R.B. Kuiper) and the practical demonstration of God's eternal mercy. What are deacons, and what should they be doing?