According to Acts 6, who is responsible for the ministry of deacons?

The ministry of deacons, as outlined in Acts 6, is primarily the responsibility of the deacons themselves. This chapter recounts the early church's need to address the distribution of food, particularly to widows, necessitating the appointment of a group of seven men. The apostles recognized that their primary duty was to prayer and the ministry of the word, so they instructed the congregation to select deacons to handle these logistical needs.

By delegating these tasks to the newly appointed deacons, the apostles ensured that both the spiritual and practical needs of the church community were met effectively. This structure highlights the distinctive role of deacons in serving and managing specific ministries within the church, reinforcing their importance in the overall functioning and health of the church body. Their hands-on involvement allows the church leaders, such as the apostles and pastors, to focus on teaching and spiritual guidance.

This means that while other leaders, such as pastors or the Church Council, may have overarching responsibilities for the church, it is the deacons who are specifically tasked with the ministry functions they were appointed to oversee. Their service is fundamental to the church's mission of meeting both physical and spiritual needs within the community.