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Stephen · #49 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 11:28 AM

I find it odd that we have a denomination that takes one position and then allows congregations to take another position. This is the problem in the PCA. If we are a Reformed denomination that is subject to authority then we should deal with these matters and not allow deviation. The issue before the PCA regarding deaconesses has come to the assembly before, but the only decision that has been made is that deaconesses are a violation of our standard. We need to address how we deal with a number of congregations that have deaconesses. Some congregations had them from the time they entered the PCA, and yet to my knowlege no ruling has been made against it.[/QUOTE]

Keep in mind our denomination is not really allowing congregations to take another position.

What led to one of the Overtures (#9) for a study committee was a review of Presbytery Records (at our General Assembly level) citing the practice as contrary to our Book of Church Order. Also, complaints were filed in the presbytery to enforce the Book of Church Order on these points.

It might be more accurate to say a few Presbytery majorities are either confused and need guidance or do not have the will to enforce our Constitution. Most are enforcing it. Even some that have not had the majority will to do so are legitimately crying out for help from their peers- a great benefit of being in a "connectional" system. Let's be charitable to our bretheren on this point.

Also, it is my understanding historically that when the RPCES churches joined with us more than twenty years ago, a substantial minority of them had ordained women deacons. The agreement was explicit that they must stop ordaining women... and they in good faith all did.

There was a less formalized understanding that deaconesses (a unordained office) could exist for a while during transition (sort of a grandfather clause) but that that would eventually go away. Most never did. The agreement was perhaps not explicit enough. Keep in mind most of these churches did have male leadership at the authority head of the Diaconate even if they were blending job functions or confusing ordination with commissioning.

A (very) few more recent churches seem to have gotten in with all sorts of non-Reformed, non-Presbyterian practices- functioning almost completely outside the trajectory of our denomination. I'm not sure how that has happened or how this has been allowed to continue, but we must deal with it now to preserve the peace and purtity of our denomination.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps the PCA is not allowing others to take a different position in theory but it is in practice. The PCA has not made a ruling against those who are allowing for this function, so this is confusing and somewhat contradictory. If a presbytery allows a deaconess to assist with the ordination of elders this is a clear violation of PCA standards. If a congregation is ordaining deaconesses this is a violation of our standards. Keep in mind that the Book of Church order is always being ammended or revised, so it is conceivable that the language of men only could be changed. I am not sure that is why Overture 9 was submitted to the Overtures committee.