How to Prepare to Be an Orthodox Deacon
Preparing to become a deacon within any of the orthodox denominations inside Christianity requires careful consideration when making personal choices in your life. Decisions range from how you organize and conduct yourself with your finances all the way to matters of marriage and sexual purity. Some churches may even perform a background check on you, with your permission, to interview your current employer and others who have known you for a period of time. Preparing to become a deacon has more to do with choices made in your life endeavors than any other aspect of being chosen for the task.
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Instructions
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Conduct all financial aspects of your life responsibly. Refrain from using any more credit than absolutely necessary. When being considered for the office of deacon by some orthodox churches, responsible financial organization in your life is viewed as a positive personal quality that says "responsible." If this responsibility is noticed at the beginning of proceedings when evaluating you, the clergy will be more likely to move forward with further evaluation in other areas.
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Remain sexually celibate if you aren't married. Most orthodox churches have a very dim view on sexual intimacy outside the bond of solemnized marriage. Should you lie (bear false witness) and you are caught after being selected as a deacon, you could be permanently excommunicated from your denomination. Excommunication is a serious matter since it will prevent you from attending other churches in the same denomination.
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Love and nurture your spouse at all times, providing for her diligently. Many orthodox churches allow you to be married and still be selected as a deacon. If you are married and are being considered to be a deacon, orthodox churches require that you have been married to only one wife, never having been divorced and remarried. Check with your desired orthodox denomination about whether there are any special requirements for married deacons within the church.
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Abstain from committing any crimes, even those that may only be low-level misdemeanors such as repeated traffic violations. Though many orthodox churches may not hold simple errors against you entirely, they may be used as part of the total evaluation procedure.
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Refuse to be litigious (filing lawsuits against others). If you are found to be a litigious individual, it may count against you in some orthodox denominations as it is a sign that you aren't committed to "turning the other cheek" and that you are less than willing to "love your fellow man as God loves the church."
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Inquire with your desired orthodox denomination to find out if there are any required seminary or other educational courses that must be taken, and then take them. Even if your orthodox denomination doesn't have any requirements in this regard, ask if there are any programs that may be considered desirable when being considered for becoming a deacon.
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Maintain a mind-set of servitude to your fellow church members at all times, even before you become a deacon. Though you may not notice you are being watched and evaluated by the higher ranking clergy, you most certainly are. Being polite, warm and social with the laity will bring favor upon you in the eyes of the clergy. Simple matters of assisting those in wheelchairs or those with any other disabilities, all without being asked, always make a lasting impression on those people and the clergy who witnessed your benevolent conduct.
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Tips & Warnings
Never "let your guard down" once you have become a deacon within an orthodox denomination. You will most likely be expected to maintain the same high level of conduct as you did before being selected as a deacon within the church. Should you not maintain that same level of conduct, it is possible that you may be removed from the office of deacon permanently.
References
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