Women in Ministry: Deacons/Deaconesses

Can a woman be a deacon or is a woman a deaconess? Just about everyone would say men are deacons and women are deaconess. However, there is no Greek word that translates to deaconess.

Phoebe
Phoebe, a woman, is mentioned in Romans 16:1. Some translations call her a deacon, others call her a deaconess (no Greek word) and others call here a servant. Servant is the most accurate translation because the word used is diakonon, which BTW is used for Jesus in Romans 15:8.

Deaconess-Complementarians and Egalitarians
What is interesting is that even though there is no Greek word for Deaconess many Complementarians and all Egalitarians believe there are women deaconesses. Most on both sides agree that Phoebe was a deaconess. Many agree that there are other women in the Bible that most likely had the role of deaconess, one of which was Lydia. Overall the belief by Complementarians and Egalitarians is there are women in the church who are servants and operate in the role of a deaconess. Even though there is no key verse other than Phoebe being called a deaconess in some translations. Some base their position on a woman being a deaon/deaconess upon 1 Timothy 3:11 when it says in the same way, likewise, so must. The Greek word being used for wives can also be translated as women.
¹¹ In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. (NLT)
(Or the women deacons. The Greek word can be translated women or wives.)

¹¹ In the same way, women who are servants in the church should be dignified and not gossip. They should be sober and faithful in everything they do. (CEB)

¹¹ Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. (ESV)
(Or Women likewise)

¹¹ Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (KJV)

¹¹ In the same way, ·women [or women who are deacons; or deacon’s wives] must be ·respected by others [dignified]. They must not ·speak evil of others [be slanderers/gossips]. They must be ·self-controlled [sober] and ·trustworthy [honest; faithful] in everything. (EXB)

Role of Deacons
! Timothy 3:8-10, 12
⁸ Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹ Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
¹² Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 

Complementarians and Egalitarians who believe women can be deaconesses overall agree that the expectation/requirement for deacons are the same expectation/requirement for deaconesses, except for obviously they cannot be the husband of one wife.

Husband of One Wife
If deacons and deaconesses have the same expectations/requirements other than deaconesses being the husband of one wife, then when looking at elders that should not be an argument used that women cannot be elders. Why does husband of one wife does not stop a women be a deacon/deaconess, but stops them from being an elder? (Some argue there are other reasons, we will cover them in our next article.)

For now, there needs to be an acknowledgement that Complementarians cannot agree on husband of one wife, so they interpret it to mean whatever matches their belief, not based upon Scripture, because nowhere in Scripture is this phrase defined. Various opinions:
A. Husband of one wife means no polygamy. (There was polygamy among the pagan culture. There were Jews practicing polygamy. I believe the phrase needs to be taken literally because none of the other interpretations are found in Scripture and divorce is not an unpardonable sin. Either divorce is covered under the blood or it is not. Unless it was unbiblical divorce or unbiblical divorce and remarriage never repented of.)
B. Husband of one wife means a deacon must be married, not single. (Some allow single men or women to be deacons, others do not.)
C. Husband of one wife means cannot be divorced.
D. Husband of one wife means cannot be divorced unless it was a biblical divorce.
E. Husband of one wife means cannot be divorced unless divorce was before being saved.
F. Husband of one wife does not apply if the deacon’s spouse passes away and is married again.
Other than A and B, the phrase is not being taken literally. The other options are men’s opinions/assumptions..

Summary
Most agree that women can be deaconesses. Most agree they have the same expectations as deacons other than the obvious husband of one wife. If the husband of one wife does not stop women from being a deaconess because it clearly does not apply, then why does the husband of one wife prevent women from being elders. Are there some other reasons? In the next article we will look at women being elders.

BTW, something to think about. Is there any expectation/requirement of a deacon that we as Christians, male or female, should not have as a standard as a Christian?

Women in Ministry Series
Women in Ministry, Introduction-Why the Topic?
Part One-Women in Ministry-Complementarianism, Egalitarianism, And?
Part Two-Women in Ministry-Isorropiaism-HUH??? Balance
Part Three-Women in Ministry-Bible Passages
Part Four-Women in Ministry, Extremism
Part Five-Women in Ministry-No Speak
Part Six-Women in Ministry, Prophecy
Part Seven-Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts
Part Eight-Women in Ministry-Examples
Part Nine-Women in Ministry-Headship
Part Ten-Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, and Anointing
Part Eleven-Women in Ministry, My Position
Part Twelve-Women in Ministry, 1 Timothy 2:8-15
Part Thirteen-Women in Ministry, 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Conclusion
Part Fourteen-Women in Ministry-Deacons and Deaconesses
Part Fifteen-Women in Ministry-Elders