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Originally Posted by Pilgrim  Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen There are OPC congregations that have deaconessess but they are not ordained. We cannot assume that because a woman is serving in a diaconal role that this automatically leads to her wanting to become an elder. The office of deacon is not a stepping stone to the office of ruling elder or teaching elder. This is certainly an unbiblical teaching. | It may indeed be unbiblical, but unfortunately that is the mentality that many have, that deacon is a stepping stone to elder. |
But who has fostered that mindset in the minds of people in our churches? It is men in positions of leadership. Many churches think that if a man has served as a deacon this automatically qualifies him to serve as a ruling elder. We need to Reform church government and leadership in our churches. I think we cannot assume that every woman who wants to serve or minister in the body has some secret aspiration to become an elder. Remember, that it is not always the women who are pushing the issue, but men