FEATURE

Nearly twenty years ago, Rev. Lendall Smith and the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries imagined something entirely new: a nationwide, in-person gathering where deacons could come together for encouragement, learning, and fellowship. That vision became the National Diaconal Summit, first held in 2010, and each subsequent summit has continued to strengthen the bonds among the OPC’s diaconate. We now look forward to our fifth National Diaconal Summit, to be held Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Wheaton, IL.

At the summit held in Chicago in 2022, nearly two hundred deacons gathered, and Rev. Bill Shishko reminded them why their work matters: “The grand, overarching, fundamental principle for diaconal leadership is that you represent the great deacon servant, Jesus Christ.” That truth shapes each summit's core.

For many deacons, their work in the local church is deeply personal and often carried out quietly. They walk with families through hardship, bear unseen burdens, and frequently serve without much opportunity to connect with others in the same role. The summit changes that. As one attendee, Zachary Hillegas, a deacon at Reformation OPC in Morgantown, West Virginia, shared, “The summit opened my eyes to the blessing of being connected beyond the local church.”

Along with fellowship, the summit offers practical training rooted in real-life ministry. Another attendee, Scott Cormier, appreciated the “open nature of each speaker to share past difficulties and ways they found to improve.”

There’s simply no substitute for gathering in person. No online format can replicate the experience of hundreds of deacons gathered in one room—singing, learning, praying, and sharing life together. A quiet warmth grows as new friendships are formed and old ones renewed. Even the solo deacon, who may often feel isolated in his congregation, leaves with a renewed sense of strength, knowing he stands alongside more than a thousand fellow servants across the OPC.

As plans move forward for the 2026 summit, churches are encouraged to support and send their deacons, strengthening those who faithfully reflect Christ’s mercy in the life of the church.

Please pass this information on to the deacons in your congregation. More information and a link to registration can be found here.