Deacon Manual

C. Deacons

There shall be a rotating Diaconate. The members of the rotating Diaconate shall each be elected for a term of three years with one-third of the number being elected each year. After serving a term of three years, the Deacon must rotate off the Diaconate for one year. Persons may be considered for immediate re-election to the Diaconate in the even the Nominating Committee cannot find a sufficient number of qualified people who agree to serve as Deacon. The church, in business conference, may provide a case by case waiver to the one year break schedule. If a vacancy occurs among the Deacons, that position shall be filled for the remainder of that term by the same means regular Deacons are elected. A Deacon so elected shall be eligible for the next full term provided that he/she has served no more than one of the three-year term.

Voting on the election of Deacons shall take place on the first Wednesday in October at a special called church business meeting. Newly elected deacons shall take office the first day of January each year and shall be invited to any meetings of the Diaconate that are held after their election and prior to their taking office, and they will be eligible to vote for Diaconate officers for the coming year, together with incumbent deacons.

In the first week of October of each year, the chairperson of the Diaconate shall appoint a nominating committee whose purpose shall be to provide a slate of candidates for the office of the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary of the Diaconate for the coming year. The incumbent officers of the diaconate shall not serve on this committee nor will they have any input into the committee. This slate of officers will be presented to the incumbent and incoming deacons at their December meeting. The incumbent and incoming deacons will elect officers, these elected officers will begin their duties on January 1 of the next year.

The church Nominating Committee shall nominate the Deacons. Nominees shall be chosen from among those members of the church who have proved themselves to have scriptural qualifications (Acts 6:1-8 and I Timothy 3:8-13.) Proof of scriptural qualifications will be based on their Christian service ministry, outreach and/or other spiritual involvement in this church.

Nominees shall be interviewed by the pastor and/or the Chairperson of the Deacons as to their faith and practice and their willingness to serve if elected. No person being considered to serve as a Deacon shall be presented to the church for election without having carefully read all of the constitutional and scriptural requirements specified for the Deacons. The potential candidate must agree to support and unhesitant discharge all Deacon responsibilities specified therein. Otherwise, he/she should decline to be nominated to the church as a Deacon candidate.

Nominees shall be presented to the church family at least two weeks (14 days) prior to election which will take place the first Wednesday in October. Any additional nominees by members of the church family must be submitted in writing to the pastor or chairperson of the Deacons at least one week (7 days) prior to balloting. Those who have not previously been ordained shall be ordained by the church.

Deacons shall at all times consider themselves as servants of the church. With the pastor, and as the Holy Spirit may direct, they are to consider and make recommendations to the church in all spiritual matters pertaining to its work and progress. They are to oversee the discipline of the laity in the church and establish and maintain spiritual and fraternal relations with all members of the church.

The Deacons shall be leaders of and personally involved in evangelism and church outreach. They shall also be leaders as church wide peacemakers and problem solvers of spiritual matters. They are to be aware of all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the church – its peace and harmony, its fellowship and good order, its worship and ordinances, its benevolences and ministries, and the financial programs of the church.

The Deacons are responsible for the content and issuance of the Church Covenant and the Articles of Faith, following approval by the church.

Deacons shall assist the pastor in the observance of the ordinances. Deacons shall arrange for regular meetings and such committees as are necessary to the discharge of their duties. The pastor or the chairperson of the deacons may call the deacons into special session whenever the need for such arises.

Nate grew up in Salisbury, NC prior to attending North Carolina State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, graduating magna cum laude. In 2004 he received a Master of Divinity degree from Campbell University Divinity School and in 2011 a Doctor of Ministry degree from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. Nate spent 10 years in student ministry prior to his call to serve as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Morehead City in January of 2013.

Nate has a true love for Christ, his church, and the lost. He has spent time preaching and serving the least of these in places as far away as Indonesia and Ukraine as well as rural Appalachia and his own backyard. Nate is passionate about preaching and teaching the Word.

Nate has three children: Pierce, Creed and Selwyn.

Amanda joined our team as the Associate Pastor for Children and Youth in September 2019. She graduated from University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art. In 2009 she received her Master of Divinity Degree from Campbell University Divinity School. Amanda has spent over 15 years in children and youth ministries prior to her call to come serve the people in Morehead City.

Amanda is passionate about missions and outreach. She has been able to serve in Belize, Cuba, and to the ends of the earth - The Philippines, along with many different places in the United States.

Amanda and her husband Dale have two girls, Mae Joy and Ivy Grace. She loves spending time with the girls and you can find them most afternoons at the local park. Amanda also loves a "good deal"! She enjoys Facebook Marketplace, yard sales, and thrift stores her favorite being Salvation Army (She might go there almost every weekday) & Loaves and Fishes. More than those things, Amanda loves people. She loves to TALK as she understands that in order to grow the Kingdom of God relationships have to be formed.

Frank Jarman came to First Baptist Church after 30 years of helping the poor, homeless, and addicted of North Central West Virginia. He has served as Pastor of two missions and Executive Director of a small nonprofit that focused on helping people out of poverty and drug addiction.

Frank and his wife, Lynn, have served together with Operation Christmas Child, with Frank as Area Coordinator and Lynn as Site Coordinator. They also served on Mission in Puerto Rico, putting roofs on houses after hurricanes left many in Puerto Rico homeless.

Frank and Lynn also serve at First Baptist Church as facilitators of Grief Share, a weekly group helping folks walk through the loss of their loved ones.

Darrell has been our Minister for Senior Adults since June 2022. He first joined the ministry team in May 2008 as the Associate Pastor for Education and Discipleship and retired from full time ministry in May 2021. Prior to coming to First Baptist Church of Morehead City, he served at several other North Carolina churches.

Darrell graduated from East Carolina University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1999 he received his Master of Divinity Degree in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Darrell has been happily married to his wonderful wife BJ since November 6, 1982. They have one daughter, Amanda Roberson, son-in-law Brad, and two precious grandsons, Isaac and Robert. In his free time, you will find him spoiling his grandsons, attending ECU sporting events, and occasionally walking on the beach.

God does not seem ready for me to join in on retirement quite yet, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve Him here at First Baptist Church Morehead City. After many years of serving Him in Burlington and Mocksville, NC, Johnny and I moved to Morehead City in 2020 from Burlington, where we made our home and where all 7 of our children grew up. We now share 9 grandchildren whom we adore and who keep us busy.

I grew up in Whiteville, NC and graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelor of Music Degree. I began my career at Boys Homes of North Carolina in nearby Lake Waccamaw, where I received several years of my own training for the 4 boys and 1 girl that I would one day parent alone. While I knew most of my life that I had been called to ministry, this life of vocational ministry was realized in the early 2000’s when God called me from the pew to the staff to serve the congregation at First Baptist Church, Burlington. It did not take long then to realize that I needed more education and I completed the certification in Children and Family Ministry from Campbell University Divinity School in 2008. I was ordained by First Baptist Church Burlington in 2007 after years of both volunteer and vocational service and the needed time in becoming secure in the absolute call of God. Along the way I have served as Chaplain at Loaves and Fishes, been chairperson of the faith-based committee of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and served as volunteer liaison to nursing homes in Alamance County. I have also served on the board of Christian Women’s Job Corps of NC. It has also been a joy to continuously have a piano studio in my home for more than 40 years!

Please feel free to ask me about my love of “brown signs” when traveling and also why I view my ministry as my lifestyle. I would love to share my story and I would love to hear yours as well.

Deborah Lockey is Worship Leader here at FBC and leads worship along with our Worship Team for our 11am blended service. Deborah grew up in Burlington, NC and graduated from Campbell College with a Bachelors of Music Education degree.

During her late high school and college summers she worked as a staffer at Camp Mundo Vista and at age 19 felt a call to serve God with her life. Following college she served on staff at Newport Baptist Church with youth and music ministries, while also serving as church pianist and part-time secretary. In 1985 this church planted a mission in Havelock which became McCotter Blvd. Baptist Church. Deborah and her husband, Tim went with the team to help begin this work. There Deborah served as church pianist and helped develop the music ministries, eventually serving on staff as Music Minister and volunteer director of youth ministries. In 2008 Deborah joined the staff here at First Baptist, working with our youth and senior adults, she retired from those places of ministry in August of 2022. She has now returned to lead our worship team.

Deborah has been joyfully married to Tim Lockey since 1979. They have three grown sons and two lovely daughter-in-laws. They reside in Newport and love life in the country. Deborah enjoys singing and playing all kinds of music, riding her bike, sailing, reading, and spending time with Tim on their small farm.

Carol has been working 11 years as the Financial Secretary. She passionate about maintaining the church financial records and membership contributions accurately. Carol has always been known for her organizational skills and she enjoys being creative and generating new ideas and ways of completing the job more skillfully and effectively.

Carol has been married to her high school sweetheart Dick for 54 years, they have one daughter, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.

Kristin has served as the Ministry Assistant at FBC since July 2024. Growing up in Carteret County, she graduated from Croatan High School and went on to attend UNC Wilmington. Having spent most of her life by the beach, Kristin has a special love for summer. In her late 20s, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and in her early 30s with celiac disease, but through these challenges she continues to live with joy and faith, trusting that God is in control and greater than her disabilities. She has been married to her husband, Chris, since 2012, and they have a daughter, Lorelei, who is in college. Kristin also adores her two cats, Cupcake and Sushi.

Fran has worked at First Baptist as a custodian for twelve years and counting. She loves working and serving at First Baptist. When Fran isn't at the church she enjoys time at home with her pups and in her yard with her beautiful roses.