WESLEY DIACONAL COMMUNITY

 

THE AIM:

 

The aim of the Wesley Diaconal Community of MCCA is to empower and inspire deacons of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas to a life of service through mutual support in prayer, counsel, communication and commitment to the evangelistic and social mission of the Church.

 

OBJECTIVE:

 

The Community seeks to empower deacons and deacons-in-training for a life of service, the aim of which will be the promotion of Human wholeness by presenting the liberating Christ through an evangelistic and social witness placing special emphasis on children and young people.

 

MARKS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

1.             Affirmation of a sense of call

2.             The Apostolic Life permeated by the Holy Spirit.

3.             Evidence of Wesleyan Spirituality

4.             Contemporary approach to ministry

5.             Commitment to Intercessory prayers

6.             Compassion

7.             Mutual fellowship and support

8.             Affirmation of the diversity and gifts of all people

9.             Relationship with other Diaconal communities, regional and international

 

 

STANDARDS

 

EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY SHALL:

  1. Be committed to the continual strengthening of one's relationship to the Triune God through such means as prayer, Bible study, personal devotional life, and the corporate celebration of the Word and Sacrament.
  2. Unashamedly relate and witness to the mission and message of Christ not only through occupation, but in one's total life.
  3. Pledge to meet the established standards of spirituality both personally and corporately, and exercise responsible stewardship in matters of the use of gifts, money and time.
  4. Participate in continuing education events and periodic evaluation in accordance with the highest recognized standards of one's profession/occupation.

 

 

CONSTITUTION OF THE WESLEY DIACONAL COMMUNITY - MCCA

 

 

 

1.             THE NAME:

 

The community shall be known as the Wesley Diaconal Community of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, herein after called "The Wesley Diaconal Community - MCCA.

 

2.             THE AIM:

 

The aim of the Wesley Diaconal Community - MCCA, is to empower and inspire deacons of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas for a life of service through mutual support in prayer, counsel communication and commitment to the evangelistic and social mission of the Church.

 

3.             THE MARKS:

 

  1. Affirmation of a sense of call.
  2. The Apostolic life permeated by the Holy Spirit.
  3. Evidence of Wesleyan Spirituality.
  4. Contemporary approach to ministry.
  5. Commitment to Intercessory prayers.
  6. Compassion.
  7. Mutual fellowship and support.
  8. Affirmation of the diversity and gifts of all people.
  9. Relationship with other diaconal communities, regional and international.

 

4.             MEMBERSHIP:

 

Membership will be comprised of deacons of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas.

 

5.             CONVOCATION AND SUB-CONVOCATION

 

Convocation shall, in the first instance, be held every three years.

Sub-Convocation shall be held annually in four locations.

 

THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY

 

There shall be a dual focus in the community's life:

( i)           The life of the Community as a body.

(ii)           The extended life of the Community through the evangelistic and social witness of its members.

There shall be four aspects of the Community's life:

 

A.            SPIRITUAL:

Members shall:

  1. Cultivate a personal devotional life with specific emphasis on prayer.
  2. Promote spiritual enrichment programmes at Regional and Connexional levels.
  3. Establish a common day of Intercessory Prayer for Deacons/Ministries undertaken by the Diaconate.
  4. Develop support prayer partners.
  5. Guard against the burn-out syndrome.
  6. Programme personal moments of spiritual renewal.

 

B.            FELLOWSHIP:

 

  1. Organise times of sharing our Christian experience with a view of building each other up.
  2. Build communication with each other in the Community to stimulate fellowship, support and encouragement.  This can be done for special occasions, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries of ordination, etc., through cards, fax, memos, etc.
  3. Share work experiences, particularly projects, educational programmes/materials.
  4. Actively work towards overcoming tendencies towards fragmentation, alienation, dissension, etc., in the Church.

 

C.            EVANGELISTIC AND SOCIAL WITNESS

 

  1. Through training, seminars and other means of spiritual building call the young to discipleship, consecration and commitment.
  2. Advocate/Coordinate/Support programmes for young people and children.
  3. Sensitize young people and children to the needs in their communities, teaching them how they can be a part of the church's response to these needs.
  4. Promote youth and children's work to enrich the spiritual life of the Church through culture: dance, drama, music, etc.
  5. Make use of study materials recommended by Conference.
  6. Evangelize and train adults for leadership among the young.

 

D.            NETWORKING:

 

  1. Promote the work of the Diaconate at all levels in our Connexion and beyond, through pamphlets, the media, etc.
  2. Foster ecumenical relations with other regional and international Communities/Organizations.