Woman deacons and Rocky Mountain Presbytery: short and sweet submission...

(Tim, w/thanks to Dominic) Yesterday, Rocky Mountain Presbtyery (PCA) adopted a resolution that makes it clear they will require men serving within their bounds to submit to Scripture and the Book of Church Order in the matter of the diaconate. Unlike the document developed and circulated around the country by those working against the Book of Church Order to seek acceptance for unordained male deacons working alongside female deacons, without sexual distinction, this document is short. It's straighforward. It's simple.

But then, obedience and submission usually are.

For the record, then, here's Rocky Mountain Presbtery's public commitment to faithful doctrine and practice...

The following resolution was adopted by the Rocky Mountain Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America on April 23, 2009:

 

Resolution to Rocky Mountain Presbytery

Regarding Women Not Serving as Deacons or on Diaconates

 

Whereas the Rocky Mountain Presbytery at its April 2008 stated meeting adopted the following with respect the office of deacon:

 

1. That the office of deacon is one of the ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church (BCO 1-4; 4-2; 7-2; 9-1); and
2. That as a perpetual office in the Church, each particular church should elect men only to the office of deacon, unless providentially hindered, in which case the ruling elders will assume those duties (BCO 5-10; 24-1); and
3. That the office of deacon "in accord with Scripture is open to men only” (BCO 7-2; 9-3; 24-1); and
4. That since the expressed position of the PCA Book of Church Order is that the office of deacon is a perpetual office, is reserved for men only, and is an office for which ordination is to be administered (BCO 5-10; 16-3; 24-6):
   1. That the Presbytery require its ministers, candidates for ordination and licensure to acknowledge this expressed position in the BCO and promise to conform their practice to this expressed position.
   2. And further, that Presbytery agrees that stated differences of belief in this area may be allowed as an exception of belief, but not of practice (RAO 16-3 (e) 5).
5. And should a member of our Presbytery wish to alter his practice with regard to women and the office of deacon, the proper course to take is to follow the constitutional process for amending the BCO. 

Whereas the 36^th General Assembly approved the following motions with respect to the subject of women serving as deacons and on diaconates:

 

1. BCO 9 is clear that only ordained and elected men can be members of a "diaconate." The appeal to BCO 9-7 is flawed because 9-7 addresses people appointed by the Session, not members of a diaconate (Board of Deacons, 9-4). According to BCO 9-3 and 9-4, a diaconate may only include men what are elected, ordained and installed. … . In addition, this practice, coupled with the minister's expressed view that he intends not to ordain deacons "until the BCO is amended," denies qualified men their constitutional and biblical right to be considered for this office.

2. We agree with the Presbytery that BCO 9-3 would not directly apply to the commissioning of unordained women, if they are not considered to be members of the Diaconate. However, the record indicates that "four deaconesses and one deacon were commissioned," and the record of the particularization service refers to "Vows/Commissioning of Diaconate." BCO 9-3 and 9-4 are clear that only ordained and elected men can be members of a "Diaconate."

And whereas BCO 21-5, in the 4^th ordination vow, asks ministerial candidates to promise subjection to your brethren (representing the entire PCA) in the Lord and

 

Whereas BCO 29-1 affirms that the Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly, together with the formularies of government, discipline, and worship are accepted by the Presbyterian Church in America as standard expositions of the teachings of Scripture in relation to both faith and practice and

 

Whereas BCO 21-5, in the 2^nd ordination vow, presupposes the honor system for ministers with this language: “do you further promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will on your own initiative, make known to your Presbytery the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?”

 

Therefore the Session of Skyview Presbyterian Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, asks the Rocky Mountain Presbytery to remind its ministers and the Sessions of its member churches to bring their practices into conformity with the RMP Resolution adopted at its April 2008 stated meeting and the ruling of the 36^th General Assembly with respect women serving as deacons and on diaconates in PCA churches, specifically that:

 

1.       Men only are to be elected by a congregation to the office of deacon;

2.       Women cannot be elected by a congregation to the office of deacon;

3.       Women cannot be commissioned or ordained to the office of deacon;

4.       Women cannot serve on the Board of Deacons.

5.       Women may be appointed by the Session as deaconesses, or as otherwise named, to assist     and advise the Board of Deacons in serving and caring for the congregation.

 

Adopted by Rocky Mountain Presbytery

April 23, 2009