Expert: Bruce Gourley - 11/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: What is the greek word for women who are deacons in the Baptist Church?

ANSWER: Here are a few verses that address the women deacon question (and not just for Baptists):

1 Timothy 3:11 -- There is not a Greek word that specifically means "wives" ... thus 1 Timothy 3:11 could mean either women deacons or wives of men deacons.

The Greek word diakonos (translated in English as deacon) means "servant" in every case. For example, Romans 16:1 specifically refers to Phoebe is a diakonos "of the Cenchrea church" (indicating she held a church position).

Baptist churches with deaconesses (a practice among Baptists since their beginnings in the early 17th century) typically recognized Phoebe as a New Testament church deaconess and are of the opinion that God's call to ministry is not dependent upon gender.

- Bruce Gourley
 brucegourley.com
 baptistlife.com
 centerforbaptiststudies.org


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is it alright for a Pastor wife to attend church conferences, even if she is not a member of that church? If so, what scriptures backs it up?

Answer
The basic answer to your question is that the matter is entirely left up to each individual local church to determine who can, and who cannot, attend church conferences, business meetings, Sunday School, worship or whatever.  Somewhere in your church's bylaws the issue of who can attend church conferences is probably addressed; if not, then presumably anyone can attend.

Bruce Gourley
brucegourley.com
baptistlife.com
centerforbaptiststudies.org