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Originally Posted by interalia  Fredtgreco, your analysis seems sound, except I see the Bible speaking to the office of deacon requiring responsiblity, not accepting authority. The crux of the deacon is service, not leadership. Their activities are governed by Elders (or should). That being said, I am no feminist, but I think I might echo Backwoods Presbyterian's sentiments only as it relates to deacons/esses. |
This is my own position on the matter. A deacon or deaconess is under authority and is not permitted to lead or exercise authority, but the problem in the PCA is that we have congregations that have deaconesses (10th Pres. in Philadelphia, Redeemer in NY City, several congregations in N. California Presbytery, and a host of others) and the PCA has never addressed it. Some like 10th in Philadelphia had deaconesses before they were joined and received by the PCA. Should the PCA bring discipline against these congregations, allow them to be ordained without authority, comission them (which some PCA churches have already done) or function as a body of women under deacons? That will be for the General Assembly of the PCA to decide next month.