Altdiakon
The Altkiakon (elder deacon) was an honorary office of the two former churches of Schleswig-Holstein. When a deacon had for a number of years rendered especially useful service, he could, upon the request of the church council, be chosen by the congregation as "elder deacon." This office lasted for life, whereas deacons were chosen only for a number of years.
A few Dutch congregations also have a similar office, as for instance in Rotterdam. After a member has served on the church council for five years he is transferred into the oude dienst. The members of the oude dienst met twice a year with the council, especially to give advice in financial and spiritual matters.
See Almosenpfleger
Bibliography
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 38.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pp. 75-76. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
©1996-2013 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
MLA style: Smissen, H. van der and Nanne van der Zijpp. "Altdiakon." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1955. Web. 19 May 2013. http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A45406.html.
APA style: Smissen, H. van der and Nanne van der Zijpp. (1955). Altdiakon. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 May 2013, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A45406.html.
