The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Female deacons?

In reply to:

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if this deaconess truly has authority over any man in the congregation . . .

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Linda,

This is the "loophole" which has opened the door to allowing women to serve in the Eldership and the Deaconate. When one allows the debate to be shifted to the pragmatic, i.e. issues as "authority", then one totally circumvents the CLEAR teaching concerning the QUALIFICATIONS for these two Christ-ordained OFFICES. Personally, I couldn't care less if a woman is said to have authority or in the case of those who object to the historical/traditional view, no authority over a man and/or congregation, the qualifications for the office must be met. One of those qualifications is that "a MAN be the husband of one wife. In both of the major passages which speak of these two offices (1Tim 3:1-13; Titus 5-9), the pronoun he is used throughout. That Paul enjoins and allows only men to serve as Elders and Deacons is incontrovertible.

If a church desires to have a woman who has NO AUTHORITY to do various services within the body, then that is perfectly acceptable. However, they are not allowed to be designated as Deacons.

A challenge was put forth to all who reject the biblical teaching concerning the qualifications for Elder and Deacon which has yet to be sufficiently answered. You can read it here: An Open Letter

For a thorough study on the issue see here: http://www.the-highway.com/OPC_women.html

In His Grace,