For those who may be new to the discussion, it may be helpful to have a few brief explanations of the terminology involved, because it can be confusing.

Normally in English, putting "ess" on the end of word "feminizes" the word. For example: a female tiger would be called a "tigress." A female actor would be called an "actress." A female heir would be called an "heiress." And there would be NO DIFFERENCE between the two, except that one was male and the other female.

Such is not the case with the word "deaconess" in the PCA situation. In other denominations, the word "deaconess" means a female deacon, as you would expect. But in the discussion now taking place in the Presbyterian Church in America, the word "deaconess" does NOT mean a female deacon.

In the PCA, the Book of Church order only allows for the ordination of male elders and male deacons. Female deacons are not allowed. So, if the word "deaconess" means the same as "deacon," but female, that would contradict the Book of Church Order. Therefore, some churches have taken to advocating a third, separate office for women called "deaconess." A deaconess is therefore an unordained woman who helps the deacons with various tasks, especially the "mercy ministries" of the local congregation.

The practice of commissioning (not ordaining) deaconesses was accepted in the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod (RPCES) which came into the PCA in 1982. The RPCES churches which had deaconesses were allowed to keep them, with the understanding that they would not become female deacons. Now a number of PCA churches which were not ever part of the RPCES have also begun commissioning deaconesses. It seems to be a fairly wide-spread practice, though there is no list of all the PCA churches with deaconesses, and therefore impossible to say exactly how many PCA churches have deaconesses.

One issue that is a source of controversy is that in some of these churches with deaconesses, the deaconesses have begun meeting with the male deacons in an umbrella organization called the "diaconate." (Normally in the PCA, only male deacons are members of the diaconate.) And sometimes the "chairman" of the diaconate turns out the be a deaconess. Thus these churches have done an "end run" around the Book of Church Order. For all intents and purposes, the deaconesses in these churches have become female deacons, in all but name. An example of such a church would be Redeemer in New York City. Here is a link to their web site showing a lady as Director of the Diaconate.

A second issue is that some PCA pastors and elders are forthrightly advocating the ordination of women to the office of deacon, equal to a male deacon. (Here is a link to Loch Raven PCA Church, with lady deacons listed.) These men generally promise to keep quiet about their view, when joining a presbytery, in order to pastor or serve in the PCA. This practice is called "having an exception" to a portion to our PCA standards, which is a common thing in most PCA presbyteries. These men believe that it would be Biblical to ordain women as deacons. They would like the Book of Church Order to be changed. That's why we have Overtures about this at our General Assembly this year. (Here is a link to the Overture from Liberti PCA Church requesting lady deacons.) The Overtures are attempts to establish a study committee which may come back next year and recommend changes to the Book of Church Order.

I cast no aspersions on anyone. I believe everyone involved has the best of intentions. I'm just trying to explain the situation clearly. I hope these comments will be helpful in explaining why female deacons and deaconesses have become an issue in the General Assembly in Dallas in 2008.