The PuritanBoard - View Single Post - Question for PCA Elders and the topic of Female Deacons

**DMcFadden** · #16 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenPierce

Having grown up in the RCA and left it over the necessity of submission to female elders (which is but a symptom of a denial of Biblical authority), female deacons are, to me, a tertiary issue.

But, from recent experience with "our" churches in San Diego and Denver, I fear that much of what is lurking behind the skirted deacons argument is egalitarianism, pure and simple. That is why the existence of female deacons in the ARP and RPCNA does not trouble me. I don't believe the motivation there to have been egalitarian.

So, I am more frightened of the ideas lurking behind, admittedly a slippery slope argument, but nonetheless we ought to be looking at the whole worldview that gives rise to this stuff.

Ken,

That is an incredibly insightful organizational observation. As one who graduated from a school where you cannot even submit a paper for grading now that is not fully "inclusive," and belonged to a denomination that viewed dissent from ordaining women as the unpardonable sin, your insights seem quite sound. The liberals bought into egalitarianism in the 60's/70's. The "progressive evangelicals" got on board in the late 70s/80s. The mainstream evangelicals found common cause in the 80s/90s. It is just about time for the conservative evangelicals and conservative Reformed bodies to start fighting over the issue too. Judging from my friends in the PCA, however, I would be surprised if your assessment of the current strength of this movement is totally accurate. The feminist juggernaut is clearly moving the direction you describe. The only question is where it currently stands in its progress.

[If you want to play a discouraging head counting game, list the mainline seminaries that are not off the chart in their PC gender politics. Then, name ANY "evangelical" seminaries that do not take at least a tentatively pro-women's ordination stand (hint: start with Masters as one of the few who take a firm anti-feminism position). Then, list the Reformed seminaries that do not have some measure of controversy on the subject. Finally, consider the percentage of seminary grads in America that are not reflexively pro-ordination of women.]