C. Nick Willborn · Confessional Presbyterian Journal 5 (2009): 185-199.
Summary
C. Nick Willborn, a Presbyterian Church in America pastor and church historian, argues in this Confessional Presbyterian article that the diaconate is an office of divine right: instituted by God, spiritual in character, and perpetual, so that a man may not take up the work and lay it down at his own pleasure. From Acts 6 he presses the requirement that a deacon be full of the Holy Spirit, and he contends that a working diaconate frees elders for their spiritual calling, to the whole congregation’s good.
Excerpt
While the work of the deacon is one of service to the poor and the widows; while the work of the deacon is one of serving tables and making distributions to those in need (thus, handling the monies of the church), we must never lose sight of the fact before us in Acts 6:3—the deacon is to be “full of the Holy Spirit.” It is not enough that a man be respected by or successful in the world, he must exhibit a deep spirituality if he is to be considered for the office of deacon.
Excerpt
As such, it is perpetual. A man may not take up the work and lay it down of his own volition. God has ordained his life to one of service to the church and only God can dismiss.
Excerpt
So long as elders are consumed with temporal matters, the congregation will be temporally minded. When the diaconate fundions as the temporal agents of the church freeing the elders for their spiritual calling and business, the church will grow in grace and the spiritual aptitude and piety of the congregation will rise to new heights.
Browse by Topic · Browse by Author
Feedback, questions, or recommended resources?
More from Tim Hopper: readmachen.com · reformedconfessions.com · ulsterworldly.com
Maintained since 2015 · last updated 2026
Copyright © 2026
Header photo of Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina.