#Deacon sc

[gaygalore]

Deacon (Johnny Donovan) and Joseph Hart Sean Cody, 2023

[hispits]

Deacon (Johnny Donovan) with Joseph Hart Sean Cody, 2023

[sweaty-man-pits]

Eddie and Deacon (2023)

via Sean Cody

[tinytorchlight]

< emerge

[rubyhellneon]

"You know, we never talked about it... why we still wore the colors... All this time out in the Freakshow when shit like this didn't matter anymore. When we rode outta Farewell without Sarah, I knew that we leaving everything behind". — Deacon St. John

「  Days Gone (dev. Bend Studio) 」 Sc. by Jim Raynor

[bethany-thinking]

Why All the Fear about Background Checks?

The other day I was peacefully browsing the internet. Okay, maybe not. I was on Christian Twitter and that's always a bit of a train wreck. While reading the feed, I came across a link to this article titled Reasons to Oppose Background Checks in the PCA written by a SC teaching elder, Christopher Brown and published by The Aquila Report. Since I have a horrible habit of reading things that I probably should just ignore, I clicked the link. After all, I was a bit curious, what could possibly be the reasons why you wouldn't want background checks. I mean background checks are a base level check and fairly standard for any place that employs people that are going to work with minors or other at-risk individuals. Plus, it's becoming more obvious from the news each day that churches need to be more careful who they hire and allow around minors. So, are you curious about what the reasons are for believing that "'requiring' background checks for elders and deacons is both unwise and unbiblical"? Also, note that the populations most at danger from sexual assault criminals (women & children) have no voice or vote on this decision. That makes articles like this even more dangerous. Reason #1: "Background checks do not indicate a man's Christian character or fitness of ministry." Brown's reasoning starts with the premise that while some in the PCA believe that background checks are helpful in determining whether a man fits the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy or Titus that because these qualifications are "spiritual" and "moral" but not "legal" and because they only determine the "past" and not the "present" that they aren't biblical. In fact, after creating a scenario about a man who has a marijuana record from seven years ago that might cause him to experience "prejudice, Brown then compares this fictional character to the Apostle Paul. I would love to meet the person that thinks that background checks are going to be a fully adequate way to ensure that someone is safe and a good fit to be a pastor. Background checks are just one way of gaining potential information that someone is not safe. Of course background checks should be combined with intensive interviews, attention to red flags in the interview process, and character references, plus policies and education in order to recognize abuse or harmful people in the church. It's interesting that Brown chooses marijuana instead of the many non-debatable reasons why churches should conduct a background check such as checking for recorded domestic abuse, violence, sexual assault, theft, or any other crimes that could place a church's members in danger. The Paul illustration is dangerous because there are countless stories of churches ignoring facts about people's past such as allowing people with known accusations of sexual assault access to minors. Churches love stories of people with a checkered past coming to Jesus. This point though makes you wonder if Brown thinks it's best if the church just doesn't know what exactly the past is and that should scare all of us.

Reason #2: "The use of background checks can lead to entanglement with the civil magistrate in approving ordained leaders."

There is only one paragraph here because it starts this point with saying the consequence is "clear". This clear consequence???? "the civil magistrate becomes involved in the church’s vetting of elders and deacons." I feel sort of odd even trying to rebut this because I think the average person understands the difference between the church requesting a bit of documentation as part of the hiring process and the church asking the state to approve it's ordination. According to Brown, a background check means "the church must necessarily involve the magistrate, however indirectly, in the ordination of leaders". Even the word "indirect" in this point is a stretch. Reason #3: "Rationale given for mandatory background checks is tenuous, at best."

This is Brown's longest point. Seriously, after those first two tenuous points telling you the other side is tenuous is where he decides to invest his energy. He first points to Ohio Presbytery's justification of the background check to further bolster looking at the moral character of candidates. Brown argues that a background check doesn't do this. In a way, Brown is right. Nobody should perform a background check and if it comes back clear just assume that is a stamp of good behavior.

I think it's safe to assume thought that the average person would actually like to know if their potential new pastor hire has a sexual assault or violent crime record before hiring them. A background check is just information that a person should be disclosing in the interview process anyway.

Brown then says that a background check wouldn't reveal an abusive leader because past actions can't tell us whether they would be abusive (again pointing to the apostle Paul). I would like to ask Brown if he thinks that the church should be gathering any information about someone's past. You can still judge someone in the present while taking into account their past.

Brown then makes a point about spiritual exams not having legal consequences and background checks having legal consequences. I'm not sure I understand his reasoning on how conducting a background check affects someone legally but maybe I'm just not following Brown there.

Then he states that the Ohio's insistence on binding ministers to a background check is unbiblical because we are only bound to only the Word of God. Martin Luther gets pulled in as dying for this principle to give a little extra punch to this point. Is the PCA a bunch of Baptists now? Presbyterians love rules and binding people to stuff outside the Bible like The Westminister Confession of Faith. Brown interestingly gives the example of the Book of Church Order as something that can err in contrast to the Word of God. Last I checked, that was binding for the PCA.

His last points are that requiring background checks is an effort to "please the world and state". A rhetorical question asking if there is any data that the PCA leadership is full of people with criminal pasts, and then a admonition that we are to be "separate from the world". He does also state that if the church did their job with church discipline background checks would not be necessary. Based on his article though you are left with the impression that Brown doesn't really consider abuse to be an issue in the church that needs to be watched for and guarded against.

My big questions:

How is learning about something in someone's past more dangerous than choosing to not even look to see if there is something in their past?

Why would anyone want our way of distinguishing ourselves as Christians to be not performing base level security processes especially for people that interact regularly and in private settings with the elderly, vulnerable adults, and children?

Why all the fear about background checks? What do they think these background checks are going to reveal? Brown made a point that he doesn't really think the church has the types of people in leadership that would flag so why is he so worried.

The real question should be not if the church should have mandatory background checks, but what else the church should be doing to try to weed out abusive and dangerous people from being in church leadership.

The real danger is not mandatory background checks, it's thinking that mandatory background checks are enough.

[catholicroads]

The Prayer Warrior

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. —Phil 4:6 (NRSV) ALMOST TRUE STORY … EDISTO RIVER SC (CR NEWS) — Folks along the banks of the Edisto River near Orangeburg have been talking a lot about a Catholic deacon recently. In the community, folks know him as the man with a generous heart. In his parish,…

[jwood718]

Columbia, SC's WTLX 19 reports:

"Ex-deacon arrested in Sumter County, charged with sharing nude image with minor in youth group"

"SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities say a former Sumter County church deacon has been arrested after allegedly sharing an obscene photograph with a church youth group member.

...77-year-old Maxell Navar Bohn II of Sumter was charged with disseminating obscene material to a person under 18.

...the victim's father told...contacted law enforcement after someone sent a nude picture to [his daughter's] mobile phone. Investigators determined that Bohn sent the photograph.

According to the sheriff's office, the suspect is a member of the church and, until this week, was also a deacon there.

Investigators secured a warrant for Bohn's arrest on Thursday ...

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said that investigators aren't aware of other potential recipients of obscene material from Bohn but said the investigation is ongoing."

Again: not a drag queen, not a school teacher, not a trans-anybody.

Thanks to Purple Lady's Stuff for highlighting this.

Full story

[asburyhills]

What an amazing summer we've had-- Here's a recap of Summer 2023!

It was a summer filled with fellowship, adventure and spiritual growth across the state through SC Camps and Retreat properties. ASBURY HILLS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER Asbury Hills celebrates serving over 1000 campers: the theme was “STRIVE”; where campers learned how to live out 1 Timothy 4:12. We are grateful to our volunteer Camp Pastors (Elders, Deacons, and Youth/Children’s Directors) who come…

[roaringheat]

remembering the time i was playing fallout 4 and when Deacon told me he was a synth and gave me his recall code, i believed him 100% and thought it was so cool i posted about it on snapchat and didnt say his recall code for 2 days cause i didnt want to betray him im a FOOL

[feellikeamillionaire]

me lookin at 70s queen:

[kaastargaming]

Atlas Jones (Kaastar Original)

CC usage list: Skin: Kaastar Ayo 2.0 Skin Overlay, PYXIS ToTheBone Nosemasks, S4Nexus Dimples 2, SC Ortus Birth Marks SK2, Tamo Eyebags,                                   Tattoos: Savage Sim Baby Darkness Tattoo Eyes: DFJ Whisper Eyes Eyebrows: GolyHawHaw Eyebrows Omega Make-up: GMPE Liner cc21, iyaS TS4 Blush 01, Hair: ClumsyAlien Everett Hair (everyday) Veve Richard Hair (formal) Beard: SimlishKitsch TWH MystericSims Deacon, MystericSims Deacon Facial Hair Bodyhair: LumiaLoverSims Body Hair v5 Sliders: HFO TS4 Shoulder Sliders, Luumia mod HipShape, Luumia mod Face Asym Slider, Obscurus Eyelids Sliders N1, VibrantPixels ArmThickness Slider, VibrantPixels Thigh Slider  Nose preset: Simbience Nose Presets #25-27 Eye Presets: Obscurus Eyes presets 2m

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Sleep: Boxers Darte77_THSlimBoxerShorts Watch: Snowy Escape

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Swimwear: Trunks: Island Living Cap Pralinesims_DaydreaminBasecap_Backwards Sunglasses PC-TS4-Racer-Sunglasses

Hot Weather: Tank Top Darte77_GymTankTop_V1 Skirt SimmieV_TribalPareo4Men Shoes: Snowy Escape

Cold Weather: Sweatshirt [WAEKEY] Exploded Jumper Pants/Boots/Hat: Snowy Escape Gloves [WS] Winter Wear Stuff - Wool Gloves Note: Tray file does NOT include custom content unless I made it myself. That would be illegal distribution. Some content links might change/disappear over time. Try googling for the name if that happens. Please do not re-upload. Thanks for your support! <3

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Buy me coffee <3

[sharp-teeth-and-archived]

( Lydia Barnett ; sc )

       ❝ I was curious, Deacon, where do you hail from? ❞ Lydia asks, eyes lifting from an embroidery hoop laid on the skirt of her dress. ❝ I always wonder where all of our soldiers come from, a curious habit I imagine. ❞

@enastrcs​

[lycanstark]

              IT SEEMED AS IF HE’D BEEN GONE FOR AN ETERNITY. no matter how long, coming home to stiles, and their family was like a breath of fresh air. one that he desperately needed to feel as if everything in the world would somehow be okay.  ❛  ─  i know i wasn’t gone that long but i missed you. very much. ❜  the wolf mumbles, pressing his nose against his spouse's shoulder while they embraced one another. from within the house, logan could tell that deacon, despite his BEST efforts, was sound asleep in bed; oblivious to the entire world. 

↳  @mieczlw​ / sc.

[wutbju]

Bret Ian McAfee, age 54, of Townsend, DE, went home to be with the Lord surrounded by his family on June 15, 2023. Bret served as a Trooper with the Delaware State Police. Before graduating from the police academy, Bret earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from attended Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC.

During his career as a State Trooper, he began his journey as a member of the 65th DSP Recruit class on March 16, 1996. Bret was assigned to Troop 3 patrol, where he excelled in his role and even trained numerous recruits along the way. In 2010, he joined the Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) and Conflict Management Team (CMT), further showcasing his commitment to his profession. Throughout his career Bret was a constant presence at Troop 3, where he became one of the longest-serving Patrol Troopers. Master Corporal Bret McAfee 962 last day worked was on June 1, 2023, after serving for over 27 years. He received his final transfer and is now serving on Eternal Patrol. His loving family always sent Bret off on his shift with “Come home safe” now Bret is eternally “Safely Home.” He served God, his church, Fairwinds Baptist Church, Bear, DE where he served for many years as a deacon, his family, and his state honorably.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Rachel (Mallonee) McAfee, whom he married on October 18, 1997; his beloved daughter, Lauren Rileigh; his mother, Janet I. (Geary) McAfee of Danville, PA; his brother, Sean (Lolita); sister, Heather (Carl) Cahill; brother, Brandon; brother Ryan (Rebecca); sister, Tiffany; and nieces and nephews. Bret was preceded in death by his father, Terry K. McAfee.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 10 AM-1PM followed by the celebration of life service with Active-Duty Honors by the Delaware State Police at Fairwinds Baptist Church, 801 Seymour Rd, Bear, DE, officiated by Pastor Carlo DeStefano. Committal service will be Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 12 Noon at Jacob's Church Cemetery, Paxinos, PA, near his childhood home. Arrangements are by Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, Newark, DE.

Because of Bret’s passion to tell others about his Savior, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fairwinds Baptist Church Missions Fund or to WFBM Radio Ministries P.O. Box 119 Beaver Springs, PA 17812. For directions or to send an online condolence, visit www.stranofeeley.com

[catholicroads]

The Prayer Warrior

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. —Phil 4:6 (NRSV) ALMOST TRUE STORY �� EDISTO RIVER SC (CR NEWS) — Folks along the banks of the Edisto River near Orangeburg have been talking a lot about a Catholic deacon recently. In the community, folks know him as the man with a generous heart. In his parish,…