Deacon Ministry has been present and active throughout Brethren history. Early on deacons served as custodians of unity and were called “visiting brethren” for their role in the annual visit — to bring comfort, reconcile differences and exhort brothers and sisters to remain in the faith.

In 1983 an Annual Conference study focused on deacon ministry and led to a revitalization. Shortly after this study, former Association of Brethren Caregivers Executive Director Jay Gibble assumed program responsibility for deacon ministry. This ministry has remained in the care and stewardship of the Association of Brethren Caregivers. Gibble’s vision for deacon ministry early on included a strong connection between the deacon and whole-person health ministries. This vision is lived out in the types of training events the Association of Brethren Caregivers provides to deacons throughout the denomination.

In 1997, a new revision to the Annual Conference Statement about Deacon Ministry clarified the roles of deacons. Today deacon ministry involves components of advocacy and support; discipleship and hospitality; health and healing; and unity and reconciliation. In practical ways, deacons are assisting pastoral staff with hospital visits, preparing for love feast and communion, extending welcome to new church goers and comfort to those who are suffering and in need. To help deacons with these practical matters, ABC published the Deacon Manual for Caring Ministries, a manual to assist in many practical matters. Also, ABC's quarterly publication features articles of interest to deacons.