AboutHoyt Roberson Expertise I can answer just about any doctrinal, relational, or Scriptural question from a "traditional" church of Christ perspective, and from perspectives of somewhat more progressive congregations. If you want an answer from a particular perspective, let me know that up front, and I'll respond in that vein. If you want to peg me on the liberal-conservative spectrum, I would suggest a bit left of center. Depending on the question though, I might be far left, or perhaps rather toward the right.
Experience I am currently a shepherd of a congregation (which means, for those of you who aren't Church of Christ folk, I'm one of a handful of people responsible for the spiritual direction and maturity of the congregation, and who hire and fire the ministers). I have served in many capacities including adult class teacher (also current), deacon, administrator, and lay leader at two military bases. I am a life-long member of churches of Christ, mostly mainline congregations, but am quite familiar with more conservative and more liberal congregations and views as well. I read and subscribe to various books and periodicals for churches of Christ, and have discussed a variety of topics with representatives of our various groups both in person, and via mail.
Organizations Christian Association for Psychological Studies, American Association of Christian Counselors, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Publications www.robersonblog.blogspot.com
Education/Credentials I hold a Masters of Ministry degree from Pepperdine University, as well as a Masters of Counseling degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix.
Question The church of Christ where I have been a member since 1991 is wanting to add female deacons. I am REALLY struggling with this. Is this "scriptural"? If so, why haven't any of the churches of Christ that I have attended ever had any female deacons?
Answer Hi Cindi,
Are female deaconesses Scriptural?
Depends largely, on how you want to interpret the various texts that bear on the question.
A possible exception to this general observation is likely Phoebe, who is called a deacon of the church at...... ((Rom 16.1-2). While some would argue that Paul is actually only saying that she was "a servant" of that church (the underlying meaning of "deacon"), others point out that Paul uses the masculine diakonos to refer to her. If she was simply a servant of the church, Paul would have used the feminine referent. The fact that he uses a masculine designation, provides sufficient evidence for some that Phoebe held a (usually male) church office.
It is clear in Scripture that the early church had within it, women who provided some service, taught, and funded the work of Jesus, the Apostles, and the early church.
Were these women, servants, or did they hold an actual office? Most passages cannot be used to support either position; the exception being this Roman passage.
So, to answer your question, the answer is a probable yes. It is also true though, that Scripture does not say women cannot be deacons.
This is not traditional Church of Christ teaching even though our own heritage has witnessed women preachers and public teachers, almost from the beginning of our movement.
Most folks that support female deacons do so as part of a larger review of women's roles in the church. The argument being essentially, that women have funded, worked alongside Jesus and the Apostles, taught powerful male speakers, and were looked to to handle service activities for the churches. The argument then is extrapolated to say, "if women can do all these things, certainly they can be acknowledged for doing the same work men do." Therefore, if women are "serving" the congregation, they are de facto deacons and should be acknowledged as such.
Since you are familiar with the traditional Church of Christ views, I'll provide you a list of readings that incorporate either both views or the pro-female deacon view.
Women in the Church, by Grenz and Kjesbo
Men and Women in the Church, by Sumner
Two Views on Women in Ministry, by Belleville, Blomberg, Keener, and Schreiner
Distant Voices, by Allen
