Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online (merrian-webster dictionary) defines deaconesses as:

"a woman chosen to assist in the church ministry; specifically : one in a Protestant order"


I know that this dictionary and its definition does not applied to the overall church, but it does represents the American church thinking.

__________________
Gil Garcia
Rehoboth Reformed Church (RCUS)
La Habra, CA


"Indeed, one might say that as far as the doctrine of justification
is concerned, if you are not on the road to Wittenberg or Geneva, then the old proverb is indeed true: all roads lead to Rome." Carl Trueman