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Originally Posted by Zenas  The ARP allows for their ordination, but it is up to the local congregation to decide if they want to allow them or not. There is no standing mandate from Synod to allow for female deaconesses. |
Andrew, I believe there must be a standing ruling by your Synod that allows for this practice generally otherwise it would be a violation of the standards to ordain women to the diaconate. Synod certainly cannot mandate that women be ordained to the diaconate, that's for sure. But the Synod must have come to the conclusion (as a Synod) that the practice is Biblical in order for them to allow for it to be practiced.
That said, how this is carried out in practice will always come down to the makeup of the congregation. For instance, in our congregation, even if a woman were nominated to the diaconate, it's not likely she would have enough support during the election.