At its April 17, 2010 stated meeting Tennessee Valley Presbytery approved an overture requesting the 38th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America “to affirm that unordained deaconesses may serve the church.” The PCA GA will meet in Nashville, Tenn., June 29 – July 2. The overture was sent to the Presbytery for consideration from New City Fellowship in Chattanooga.

Whereas the Scripture calls us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3); and

Whereas the Scripture teaches us not to pass Judgment on disputable matters (Romans 14:1), and to “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Romans 14:19); and

Whereas there has been a history of disagreement within our Reformed and Presbyterian circles concerning the exegesis of Romans 16:1 In regard to the word “servant” or “Deacon” in describing a woman, namely Phoebe; and

Whereas that disagreement also extends to the exegesis of I Timothy 3:11 as to whether the translation should be woman or wife, and to the understanding of the symmetry of that passage without describing the qualifications of wives of Elders; and

Whereas there is enough Biblical evidence to support the theory, if not the idea, that widows on the roll (I Timothy 5:9710) or other godly women; and

Whereas there are Presbyters who in good and sincere conscience believe there is a Biblical basis for the role of Deaconess; and

Whereas the Scripture is to be our only rule of faith and practice; and

Whereas to disallow what the Scripture does indeed and at least “might” appear to do would put the rules of men above Scripture; and

Whereas the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod (RPCES) did allow congregations to appoint women as “Deaconesses” and this practice was recognized upon the Joining and Receiving (J&R) of that denomination Into the PCA; and

Whereas the practice of having women serve in the role of non-ordalned Deaconess has been continued in some of our congregations for 28 years since the J&R; and

Whereas the practice is now much longer than the tradition of the PCA was before J&R (only nine years); and

Whereas In most of our congregations that have held to this practice there has been no dissension concerning the ordination of women, nor has It become a movement to in any way undermine the authority of Scripture;

Whereas this ministry has been conducted in all humbleness and love, with our congregations submitting to the brethren within the General Assembly in their concern that women not be ordained to the office of Deacon; and

Whereas this ministry has brought great comfort and blessing to the churches and to the poor.

Therefore, Tennessee Valley Presbytery requests that the 38th General Assembly adopt this statement: “The 38th General Assembly affirms that unordained deaconesses may serve the church, to the glory of God.”