1. QUALIFIED LEADERSHIP FOR THE CHURCH (6) Ecclesiology

2. DEACONESSES “Unquestionably women performed a ministry in the early church, but it is not clear whether some of them were considered as occupying the office of deaconess.” (Ryrie, p. 485)  Arguments in favor of the office  Phoebe (Rm 16.1-2)  Servant is the feminine form of the word for deacon (masculine)  Helper (v. 2) is used in secular Gk as an official in a religious society (however always and only in the masculine form)

3. DEACONESSES  Arguments in favor of the office  The women of 1 Tim 3.11  Translated ‘their wives’ KJV, simply ‘women’ NAU  Compare v. 8: both ‘deacons’ and ‘women’ introduced by ‘likewise’

4. DEACONESSES  Arguments against the office  There is a specific Greek word for deaconess, but it is never used in the NT  Although Phoebe is a helper and the masculine term does mean an office holder in a religious society, there is no known use of it with respect to a woman in any ancient document  If 1 Tim 3.11 introduces a new office, why did Paul not finish his qualifications for deacons before starting up with deaconesses? “Some liberals, feeling the force of this point, argue that verse 11 is out of order in the text and should follow verse 13.” (Ryrie, p. 486.)

5. DEACONESSES: BIBLICAL WISDOM CONCERNING THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN  It is clear that women did exercise ministry in the early church (Titus 2.3-5, 1 Tim 3.9-15)  It is not clear that they held an office of ‘deaconness’ while ministering in these ways  Reasons for specifically avoiding the label ‘deaconness’ even though some early Baptist churches had such an office  The Biblical warrant for the office is doubtful at best  Since feminism today attacks the Biblical roles of men and women, it is better to avoid the use of the term  No one needs a label in order to be able to serve others in God’s church

6. DEACONESSES: BIBLICAL WISDOM CONCERNING THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN  Ministries women can perform in the church  Assisting with the baptism of women  Visiting the sick  Ministering to the needy (especially if they are women)  Teaching in Sunday schools (but not teaching men)

7. TRUSTEES (IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, DIRECTORS)  Not a Biblical office at all  A legal requirement with responsibilities varying by jurisdiction  In British Columbia, we are required to have a minimum of three directors  Directors are responsible personally for the debts of the organization if the membership drops below five  A majority of the directors must be at arm’s length from one another: i.e. they cannot be related Grace Baptist Church of Victoria has three directors, currently the pastor, Harry Lloyd, and Bob Bader (appointed by deacons)

8. Barabbas Road Church differs from most mainline churches in its style of church government. Most denominational churches maintain either a congregational form of church government, a Presbyterian form, or an Episcopal form of running their churches. The congregational form of church government is an American invention and appeals to our American sense of democracy. Basically, the congregation as a whole makes all decisions in these churches by voting on matters of importance and appointing committees from its ranks to run the daily operation of the church. The congregation votes on hiring a pastor, votes on how to spend money, and on anything else of importance Although democratic people like this idea congregational forms of church government often wind up, at best, causing the pastor to be directed by the sheep he is supposed to lead, and, at worst, reducing the pastor to a hireling. EXERCISE IN DISCERNMENT

9. In the Episcopal form of church government there is a bishop, or someone of similar stature if called by a different name, who oversees the churches, appoints pastors to pulpits, sets policy and guides the vision of the local congregations. This leaves little freedom for the local pastor or congregation to follow the leading of the Spirit. The Presbyterian form of church government puts the decisions of church policy in the hands of a select group of elders (the “presbytery’) who are appointed in various different ways, depending on the church. The problem here too is that this system puts the God-appointed leader, the pastor, under some of those he is supposed to lead.

10. Barabbas Road is organized differently. Church government at Barabbas Road is very simple, not a complex bureaucracy: committees and subcommittees are essentially nonexistent. Basically, at Barabbas Road. we believe that the pastor is responsible for the church, responsible to hear from God in His Word, and responsible to feed and love His people faithfully. Elders will be appointed as we grow larger to help the pastor care for the spiritual needs of the congregation. In addition, our church will eventually have church boards as required by most states, which will vary in size depending on our size The board will be able to advise the pastor with respect to the business operations and decisions of the church such as property management and investments. At Barabbas Road, church organization is de- emphasized, and only the organization that is needed to run the church is instituted. The pastor guides the church as he is led by the Holy Spirit, and we trust God to put pastors where He wants them to be.