The Office of Deacon: Co-Ed or Not?

A few months back I took a poll via the Twitterverse and Facebook asking whether or not my friends/followers supported the role of women deacons. I asked this question for two reasons: (1) I was working on a sermon on biblical church government, and (2) had recently overheard some pastors in my local Baptist association referring to the concept of deaconesses with no small amount of derision.

The responses I received were not wholly unexpected.

RESPONSES TO MY UNSCIENTIFIC POLL

Several responded in the negative, sadly without giving much biblical support for their position. Meaning, they are against the concept of deaconesses, but didn’t really articulate why. There were a few affirmatives cast.

Of the affirmatives there were two primary qualifiers. One qualifier given was that they were in favor of deaconesses if they were not ordained. In other words, they could be deacons without the ceremony.

I had a conversation with another pastor, whom I consider a dear friend, whose opinion was that the word Deaconissa was not used. When I pointed out that the word apparently did not exist in any Greek writings near the time of Paul’s writings, he viewed that as evidence that the office existed neither. I didn’t understand how Paul not using a word that did not exist could be used as an argument against women serving as deacons. Nonetheless, that was his assertion.

One other qualifier mentioned was what I was hoping to hear. A friend who is also a Georgia pastor offered this answer to the question on the whether deaconesses are allowed:

“if a deaconess and not an elder disguised as a deacon as in our typical baptist church. Deacon equals servant of the people not leader of the people and decision maker.

Nay if a deaconess functions as a deacon in the typical baptist church.

Romans 16:1 Phoebe is a deaconess (servant of the people). A deacon should be visiting, feeding, serving etc…”

The reason I was hoping to hear this response is simple, I believe this is the biblical and logical response. I know good men and women will disagree, but regardless of ordination, the Bible seems to allow for female deacons. Though some believe that Paul wrote to Timothy about deacon’s wives, the use of “likewise” in 1 Timothy 3 seems to indicate three groups being pointed out, Elders, male Deacons, and female Deacons. Why would Deacons’ wives be pointed out and not Elders’ wives?

THE REAL ISSUE UNCOVERED: ELDERS AND DEACONS

The problem most churches have is exactly what my friend said, many local churches disguise their elders as deacons or treat their deacons as elders. In other words, they give Deacons responsibilities and decision-making authority that is rightly the responsibility of the Elders.It may not be that a Deacon is necessarily unqualified to be an Elder, but God clearly delineates between the Offices of Elder and Deacon in Scripture.

Regardless of your interpretation on women deacons, the fact is that far too many churches rob themselves of two essential and God-glorifying offices within the church by not clearly, biblically delineating between the office of Elder and the office of Deacon. By not distinguishing between the two in the biblical sense, both offices are robbed of some degree of spiritual power and godly influence because their offices are not fully prescribed and fulfilled.

LOST DEACONESSES

It is ironic that the early church had deaconesses, and that early Baptist churches had deaconesses, and even early Southern Baptist churches had deaconesses, but we of the “enlightened” age fail to see it in Scripture. I am grieved that a valid expression for women to minister is suppressed, but it is only a consequence of a larger failure to consider the overall importance and beauty of both the office of Elder and the office of Deacon. I would be pleased to grant responsibility to a godly woman who was best equipped to serve a particular function.

It’s interesting that many otherwise conservative churches would look down upon other churches that implement the role of female deacons, but see nothing wrong in ceding leadership, decision-making and some governmental authority to male Deacons, a role clearly given to the Elders. As one who is striving to live a life that conforms to Scripture more and more (“semper reformanda” meaning “always reforming”), it is my prayer and that we would answer such questions, not with our pre-suppositions, but with a study of  Scripture, and diligent research.