Can women be ordained deacons?
The Church, at the present time, considers this to be an open or undecided question. However, my theological opinion is as follows. Women are not properly given the role of priest or Bishop, because such roles intrinsically include teaching, leadership, and authority over men and groups that include men. The Bible forbids women to have such roles: Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. (1 Tim 2:11-12). Women are intended by God to have roles of helping and assistance with respect to men, just as Mary has a role of helping and assisting Christ in our salvation. The roles of priest and Bishop are necessarily and essentially roles of teaching, leadership, and authority over men. Therefore, such roles are forbidden to women. However, the role of deacon is intrinsically and essentially the role of a helper and assistant. The essential nature of the role of deacons is fitting to the Biblical plan
