Who can vote?
In agreement with FBC Olton bylaws: “Every member of the Church who is on the resident membership roll is entitled to vote at all elections and on all questions submitted to the Church in conference, provided the member is present or special provision has been made by the church for absentee balloting.”
Who is eligible to be elected?
Any male, age 21 or older, that is an active member of the Church.
There is no predetermined set number of deacons to be elected
The Deacon Election sub-committee will prayerfully find the clear and obvious majority of candidates voted by the Church.
Voting will be done by ballot:
The ballot will provide 7 blanks, and the voter is encouraged to prayerfully select candidates that they believe meet the biblical requirements for being a Deacon.
Each individual is allowed a maximum of 7 votes, and only 1 vote per candidate.
Voters do NOT have to fill in all 7 blanks. (For example: If the voter believes there to be only 2 biblically qualified candidates, they will only write down those 2 names, leaving the rest blank.)
Voter’s name must be written legibly on provided envelope.
All candidate names on ballot must be written legibly to be counted.
The election committee will also serve as the counting committee.
The sub-committee will interview top majority candidates:
The top majority candidate’s names will be kept in confidence by the sub-committee to protect them and the election process.
The candidate will confirm their willingness to serve as a deacon and continue the process with a preliminary interview.
If the candidate says yes, then the sub-committee and the Pastor will schedule the preliminary interviews with each of the candidates and their wives; s
pecifically focusing on 1 Tim 3:8-13.
If the candidate completes the preliminary interview to a satisfactory level of affirmation, the sub-committee will approve the candidates and present them to the Deacon Body at a future designated Deacon’s meeting.
Ordination Council:
After the deacon body has been made aware of the sub-committee’s pre-approved candidates, each candidate will meet with the ordination council for a time of testing. (1 Timothy 3: 10)
The ordination council will consist of the FBC Active Deacons and any ordained FBC Olton ministerial staff members.
This will be a time for each candidate to answer predetermined and specific questions as presented by the council.
Following the time of testing with the ordination council, the deacon body will officially vote to affirm each candidate and present them to the Church body for future ordination.
Ordination Service:
The specific date for the ordination service will be set in communication with all elected deacon candidates, and the active Deacon body.
The Pastor and all active deacons will be expected to help plan and participate in the deacon ordination service.
Upon the conclusion of the ordination service the newly elected Deacons will become active Deacons, and will be designated a mentor Deacon for an agreeable period of time.
Schedule and Overview
Sunday, April 13th
Present Process & schedule to Deacon body.
Announce the Deacon Election to the Church
From this day through April 25th, men can remove their names from consideration if desired.
Sunday, April 20th
(Easter)
Continue to announce the election to the Church.
Friday, April 25th
Deadline for names to be removed from consideration.
Sunday April 27th
Continue to announce election at church.
Eligible list of names made available to review and pray over.
Sunday, May 4th
Announce election at church.
Eligible list of names made available to review and pray over.
Sunday, May 11th
Announce election at church.
Eligible list of names made available to review and pray over.
Sunday, May 18th
Deacon Election (voting done in fellowship hall after service)
Sunday, May 25th
Deacon Election (voting done in fellowship hall after service)
*Anyone unable to attend and vote on May 18th
or May 25th can make arrangements with the church office to absentee vote.
(Voting officially ends May 25th)
Following the election, the deacon election committee and Pastor David will reach out to the elected men and confirm their willingness to continue in the election process.
Once confirmed, the deacon election committee will continue with the process as stated.
Upon Deacon body approval, the elected men will be presented to the church.
At this point, those elected have met the following criteria:
They’ve been elected by the church body by a clear & obvious majority.
They and their wives have been vetted and interviewed by the sub-committee and pastor.
They have been affirmed and tested by the ordination council.
An ordination service for the newly elected deacons will then be scheduled and planned by the FBC Deacon body and Pastor, in collaboration with all the newly elected deacon candidates and families.
Current Deacons:
Troy Don Allcorn
James Brooks
Jimmy Brooks
Mark Gunter
Ken Hoskins
Dewey Hukill
Steve Johnson
Elmer Lewis
Floyd Light
Rickey Parkey
Randy Redinger
Richard Roberts
Steven Rose
Charlie Smith
Danny Smith