Deacons Ministry

The central calling of a deacon is “to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any that may be in distress.”
Presbyterian Book of Order

Deacons at Bethany are called to minister to the poor, the hungry, the sick, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. We look for individuals or people groups within Bethany who might be experiencing a sense of being forgotten, overlooked or disconnected. We also serve those outside Bethany through the Deacon fund.

Deacons serve through their spiritual gifts in a variety of capacities to help meet these needs. These areas are fluid and adapt to meet changing needs and to express the gifts of present-day Deacons. A few current areas of service are: managing the Deacons Fund; coordinating meal making; supporting our seniors; and welcoming new people.

Deacons, generally about 18 members, meet monthly, usually on the 4th Tuesday in the evening. During this time we have devotions and snacks, report on activities, make decisions, and pray and laugh together. Deacons also serve through praying for people during worship and serving communion. In many ways, being a Deacon is like joining a home group with a specific purpose: to serve those Christ would have us serve.

2023 Deacons

Find out more about the Deacons at Bethany

The Deacons Fund

Bethany Presbyterian Church's Deacon Fund provides a one-time monetary assistance to those beyond the Bethany Community who are experiencing unexpected financial difficulties. We receive requests primarily by referral from active participants or members of our church who have a relationship with them, or by themselves directly contacting the church office asking for help. In a real way, the deacon’s fund is an extension of the love of Christ distributed through the members of our congregation to people they know in their neighborhoods, work and schools. This financial resource is funded as part of Bethany's outreach budget and generous donations from our congregation.

The deacon fund is managed by a team made up of active deacons and the Director of Congregational Care. The team stewards this resource by following a 4 step process:

Listen: We empathize with those in need of help by reaching out and listening to their stories and understanding their struggle. We ask meaningful questions to piece together their situation so we can determine how the deacon fund can be used to best assist them.
Discern: We steward God's resources by sharing what we learn and discern as a team whether the deacon fund is the appropriate resource to use for helping. Based on the specific situation, their past relationship with Bethany and other factors, we decide how the deacon fund should be used to meet their needs; and in certain situations partner with other institutions to share the monetary burden.
Execute: We extend compassion by using the deacon fund to meet the neighbors' needs through purchasing and handing out gift cards, paying a bill on their behalf, or purchasing items for them.
Refer: We care for the people we help by identifying and referring them to resources beyond Bethany, such as government run programs or nonprofit organizations that can provide longer term support that the deacon fund cannot provide.

If you know of a need, send an email to DeaconFund@bethanypc.org and the Deacons who currently oversee this fund will get back in touch with you.

How can I get help from the Deacons?

Deacons are available to assist seniors and others in need of assistance with yard work, household chores, and handy-work. Contact any deacon with “Projects” listed under their name. We also coordinate meals for people going through a rough patch due to illness or the birth of a new baby. Contact Glyn Devereaux: glyn.dev@gmail.com. If you know of someone in your neighborhood, school or workplace who needs one-time financial assistance contact DeaconFund@bethanypc.org.

How can I serve with the Deacons?