(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...
- 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
- 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
- That the office of deacon "in accord with Scripture is open to men only” (BCO 7-2; 9-3; 24-1); and
- 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):
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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."

