Originally Posted by Stephen

Calvin had women deacons in Geneva and encouraged the practice. The women were primarily charged with ministering to other women, primarily in hospitals. The PCA does not ordain women as deacons but a number of PCA congregations have women deacons. Some of that may be from the old RPCES before it joined with the PCA, but I would suspect it is has more to do with women (non-ordained) functioning in a ministry of service. Women currently serve as deaconesses in the OPC and the APR and as Kevin said this has never created a problem. There are a couple things I see with this overture to the General Assembly this year: 1. I have very strong reservations that this could open the floodgate for the entire issue of women's ordination, which I would strongly oppose. 2. If the overture is designed to give women more active role in diaconal work, I would have no problem with it. I do think a study committee should be formed out of this overture before any vote comes to the floor of the assembly. There should be solid men on that committee who are willing to honestly look at the issue and not use it as a political ploy to open the door for the ordination of women. Remember women are not restricted from using their gifts to serve in the church but they are restricted from exercising authoritative teaching, goverance, and rule within the church. I would be curious to see how the Philadelphia Presbytery introduced this overture and why, because there are solid men in that Presbytery that would be opposed to ordaining women.