Thread by @MattCapps

Is it biblical for women serve as deacons in a Southern Baptist church?

Follow thread for questions and observations...

Question 1: Is Acts 6:3 ("men") descriptive or proscriptive?

Question 2: Should 1 Timothy 3:8-13 (v. 11) be translated "wives" or "women"?

Observation 1: (Verse 11) The pronoun “their” is not in the Greek text. Some translations add the pronoun when choosing "wives" (see Question 2).

Question 3: (Verse 11) Consider the adverb “too” or “likewise” (Paul uses the same word to transition from pastors/elders to deacons in v.7). Is this a clue?

Question 4: No mention of “wives/women” in the qualification for pastor/elder. How does this play into the discussion?

Observation 2: The qualification for deacon does not include “the ability to teach” (squaring it with 1 Timothy 2:9-15).

Observation 3: Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is open, by stating “…scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

My conclusion: In a Baptist church where the men serve as pastor/elders, and the role of pastor/elder and deacon is clearly differentiated, I believe it is biblical for women to serve as deacons.

Poll: Is it biblical for women serve as deacons in a Southern Baptist church?

Question 5: in Romans 16:1 Phoebe is called “a διάκονος of the church” using the word from which we get "deacon" or "servant". Was she a deacon?

The church I pastor has male deacons. In many ways, our deacons function like "quasi-elders".

It is one thing to ask "is it biblically permissible?", it is another thing to ask "is it wise to change the entire ecclesiology of your local church?"

Should have read "prescriptive".

The poll has ended, and I have received plenty of feedback in this thread.

First, some have suggested that we are in the wrong for having a eccleseology that includes deacons that serve as quasi-elders. I do not think, however, that we are in sin.

Second, I do not think this is an issue that necessarily serves as a litmus test for conservative theology, or is a matter that requires an immediate change at the risk of local church unity or understanding.

Third, every church has a history. And, every church has members with diverse backgrounds and convictions on this issue.

In the end, this thread was about examining the biblical text to see what we can learn and what might be considered. However, each pastor must use wisdom in seeking how to flesh this out in a local congregation.

We must always be willing to test our traditions and preconceived notions against the biblical evidence.