Expert: Dr. Tim Gladu - 10/10/2006

Question
At our church every first Sunday while taking communion the deaconess has to stand up front with the deacons.  You see one of the deacon was caught stealing money from the church by my husband who is also a deacon and he reported to the pastor and nothing was done.  So I prayed about the situation and now I no longer stand with them at the front while taking the Lord Supper.  I believe in doing what is right when it comes to serving God.  Everyone says that I am disobedient to the pastor, but I am going to stand up for right. So what should I do?

Answer
First I have to say that I do not believe there is a position of Deaconess because if you look at the qualiification of a deacon it states very clearly that a Deacon is a husband of one wife. This is located in 1 Tim 3:12. That was not your question I just want you to understand my position. I feel that a Deacons wife has a very important role becausehe has responsibility in the church if her husband is a Deacon. 1 Tim 3:11.

It sounds like you Pastor needs to be held accountable to the church and needs to havdle the situation with Church Discipline Matt 18:15-17. The last thing I have to leave you is this. Matt 7:1-6 this could solve your problem or just make it a little worse. Pastors do not always make it public when they disipline because public humilation may not be what this individual needs and also if I were the Pastor I would not make it public knowledge that I had taken action on an issue except to the people directly involved.

We are to love first and lift up our brother and when they sin we need to love them back to the flock. I also agree you should stand up for what is right, but remember the situation could have been handled and you just were not informed.

I hope this helps God bless.