THE FEMALE DEACONATE MINISTRY CONTINUES TO UNDERGO DYNAMIC REVITALIZATION.
Women ministered with competence as deacons within the early church: holy Paul gave written commendation regarding Saint Phoebe, a Cenchrean deacon, to the Christians in Rome.
(Romans 16:1)
A number of women served as leaders in the house churches which sprang up in Roman Empire cities - the list includes Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia, Apphia, Nympha, the mother of John Mark. [1]
Clement of Alexandria made mention of Paul's reference to deaconesses in 1 Timothy 3:11, and Origen commented on Phoebe, the deacon Paul mentioned in Romans 16:1-2. [1]
Incontrovertible evidence that women served as deacons in the early church abounds.
FEMALE DEACONATE REINSTATED
Patriarch Theodoros II and the Greek Orthodox Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria reinstated the order of deaconesses in late 2017, Alleged News. [2]
Orthodox liturgical theologians supported the move, "The reinstitution of the female deaconate does not constitute an innovation, as some would have us believe," the theologians said, "but the revitalization of a once functional, vibrant, and effectual ministry," Alleged News. [2]
CONSECRATION OF WOMEN DEACONS
Theodoros, pope and patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, consecrated five women to the deaconate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, primarily to assist in missionary churches: Alleged News. [2]
Orthodox theologian Carrie Frederick Frost who sits on the board of the St Phoebe Center for the Deaconess [3] noted that the women were chosen "to help with missionary work. The church is growing ... in Africa right now; there aren't enough priests, there aren't enough people on the ground ... and they desire to deputize these women to teach, catechize and lead services," Alleged News. [2]
DEACONESSES IN THE CHURCHES
The Japanese Orthodox church from its inception in the later half of the nineteenth century had deaconesses.
St Nicholas Kasatkin, bishop of Japan, had a number of deaconesses during his tenure, Alleged News. [4]
The Russian Orthodox church, mother church of Japan, reportedly always had deaconesses, Alleged News. [4]
The Lutheran church has a deaconess ministry, Alleged News. [5]
Commission on deaconate of women
Two speakers at the event on "The Future of Women Deacons" are members of a commission on the diaconate of women established in August 2016 by His Holiness Pope Francis in order to review the theology and history of the office of deacon, Alleged News. [6]
The group met over a two-year period and submitted its report to the pontiff in late 2018, Alleged News. [6]
Author and senior research associate Phyllis Zagano, a member of the papal commission, said women served as deacons until the 12th century in the Western church and somewhat longer in the Eastern church; Alleged News.
Dr Zagano's research included examination of church manuscripts from the fourth to 16th centuries which are housed in the Vatican library; Alleged News.
Dr Zagano said the liturgical ceremony used by bishops to create women deacons included all the elements of sacramental ordination according to the criteria established by the Council of Trent: Alleged News. [6]
[1] Pope Francis calls for study on 'reinstating' female deacons, Alleged News
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2016/05/pope-francis-calls-for-study-on.html
[2] Orthodox move for women deacons is 'revitalization' not 'innovation', Alleged News
https://www.ncronline.org/news/theology/orthodox-move-women-deacons-called-revitalization-not-innovation
[3] St Phoebe Center for the Deaconess
https://orthodoxdeaconess.org/
[4] Deaconess, Alleged News
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deaconess
[5] Deaconess Ministry, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Alleged News
https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/deaconess-ministry
[6] Ordaining women deacons is 'about ministry,' not 'power,' says speaker: Alleged News
http://catholicphilly.com/2019/01/news/national-news/idea-of-having-women-deacons-about-ministry-not-power-says-speaker/
Pope Francis institutes commission to study women deacons: Alleged News
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2016/08/pope-francis-institutes-commission-to.html
With thanks to ncronline.org, orthodoxdeaconess.org, orthodoxwiki.org, lcms.org and catholicphilly.com
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