Chapter 9 : The Deacon

Paragraph 4 : Of the Board of Deacons

9-4. The deacons of a particular church shall be organized as a Board, of which the pastor shall be an advisory member. The Board shall elect a chairman and a secretary from their number and a treasurer to whom shall be entrusted the funds for the current expenses of the church. It shall meet separately at least once a quarter, and whenever requested by the Session. The Board of each church shall determine the number necessary for a quorum.
The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings, and of all funds and their distribution, and shall submit its minutes to the Session regularly, and at other times upon request of the Session.
It is desirable that the Session and the Board of Deacons meet in joint session once a quarter to confer on matters of common interest.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
The core of the current PCA text dates to changes made in chapter 9 of the PCUS BCO in 1922 (cf. PCUS Minutes of General Assembly, 1922, p. 73). The Proposed PCA BCO (1973) substituted "regularly" in the third sentence, deleting the more specific requirement of "every six months". The current text dates to [1980?], with two noted changes over against PCA 1973.

ANTECEDENT TEXTS:
PCA 1973, 10-4, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 132
and
Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, 10-4, Proposed text, p. 10
The Deacons of a particular church shall be organized as a Board, of which the Pastor shall be an advisory member. The Board shall elect a Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, to whom shall be entrusted the funds for the current expense of the church. It shall
meet at least once a quarter, and whenever requested by the Session. The Board of each church shall determine the number necessary for a quorum.
The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings, and of all funds and their distribution, and shall submit its minutes to the Session regularly, and at other times upon request of the Session.
It is desirable that the Session and the Board of Deacons meet in joint session once a quarter to confer on matters of common interest.

PCUS 1933, XI, § 47
and
PCUS 1922, XI, § 47
The Deacons of a particular church shall be organized as a Board, of which the Pastor shall be an advisory member. The Board shall elect a Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, to whom shall be entrusted the funds for the current expense of the church. It shall
meet at least once a quarter, and whenever requested by the Session. The Board of each church shall determine the number necessary for a quorum.
The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings, and of all funds and their distribution, and shall submit its minutes to the Session once every six months, and at other times upon request of the Session.
It is desirable that the Session and the Board of Deacons meet in joint session once a quarter to confer on matters of common interest.

PCUS 1879, IV-4-4
A complete account of collections and distributions, and a full record of proceedings shall be kept by the Deacons, and submitted to the Session for examination and approval at least once a year.

PCUS 1869 draft, IV-4-4
The Pastor of the Congregation is ex officio Moderator of the Board of Deacons. A complete account of all collections and distributions, and a full record of all proceedings should be kept, and submitted to the Session for examination and approval at least once a year.

PCUS 1867 draft, IV-4-6
In order to the systematic and efficient discharge of their duties, the deacons ought to meet as often as necessary for the ordering of their affairs, and for mutual consultation and advice. The pastor of the congregation is ex officio moderator of the board of deacons, but it is requisite that a clerk and treasurer be appointed by the board. A complete account of all collections and distributions, and a full record of all proceedings, must be kept and submitted to the session for examination at least once a year, at a meeting previous to the stated meeting of the presbytery next preceding the annual meeting of the general assembly.

COMMENTARY:
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order (1898, p. 61), on IV-4-4 :
49.--IV. A complete account of collections and distributions, and a full record of proceedings shall be kept by the Deacons, and submitted to the Session for examination and approval at least once a year.
Three things are required : that the Deacons keep a complete account ; that they keep a full record of proceedings ; (and these things they cannot do unless they act together as a body) ; and that both this account and this record be submitted to the Session at least as often as once a year, not only for formal approval or disapproval, but also for a real examination, to see whether the Deacons have faithfully done the work as required by their office and the directions of the Session. It is a condition of confusion and disintegration when this paragraph is ignored.

J. Aspinwall Hodge, What Is Presbyterian Law? (1882), p. 61.
What is the Board of Deacons ?
The Deacons cannot act on individual responsibility, but must meet together and organize as a Board of Deacons. They should appoint a Moderator, a Clerk and a Treasurer, attend to their business in an orderly way, determine methods for searching out the poor, visiting the sick, obtaining work and relieving the distressed. They should consider the cases brought before them, and determine how to answer their applications. They should keep full records and accounts of money received and distributed, and at certain times present them to Session for approval. If the management of the temporal affairs is also committed to them, they should keep a separate account of property and moneys of the congregation.
Often the members of Session are expected to be present at the Deacons’ meeting, to advise, but not to vote. [1] The Southern Presbyterian Church declares that one of the duties of the Session is “to examine the records of the proceedings of the Deacons.”[2]
[1] See above. Form of Government, ch. ix., sect. viii.; cli. x., sect. ix.; ch. xi., sect. vi.; chs. xix. and xx.
[2] Book of Church Order, ch. v., sect, iii., sub-sect, v.

CONSTITUTIONAL INQUIRY:
1987, 15-83, III, Item 9, p. 170
That the advice of the Permanent Committee regarding Constitutional Inquiry #3 be ratified.
Constitutional Inquiry #3. From All Saints Reformed Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA, regarding a church treasurer.
"Is it in conflict with BCO 9-4 for deacons to delegate the responsibilities of treasurer to a capable member of the congregation who is not a deacon?"
Answer: "No."