Andyews University Seminary Studies Vol - PDF document

Andyews University Seminary Studies, Vol. 43, NO. 1, 133-158. Copyright @ 2005 Andrews AND IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Yucaipa, California In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, deaconesses 8:15, Luke 10:40, and Acts 6:2, with the the forty watt meaning broadens (1 Tim 3:10,13). The noun Gia~ovior table ministry 6:1,2). In Acts 20:24, it is Paul's God-given also calls is several ways. one who Cana (John article is reverently she bread, and her special cover the DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA a "benefactorn Paul and others, and Paul commended church in a benefactor (npooz&n~) a woman wealth and position. In first-century Mediterranean world, patronage provided clients and benefactor funded monuments, financed artists and writers, provided a a Jewish congregation return for labor.2 In ancient Athens, npoor&z~, a citizen whose responsibility resident aliens, rights.' the church in Rome usually accepted Phoebe carried Phoebe would written from Gaius and Erastus, were clearly 16:23; cf. 1 Cor 1:14,2 Tim 4:20). Of interest to this study is Phoebe's title, GL&KOVO~. appears here in the 61&~ovo at Cenchraea. 61&Kovog position in church. Translation the term ~L&KOVO~ Greek word. NIV "minister" in church writers their own interpretation there were women ordained in in many ways."4 Writing about Phoebe and the other Chrysostom (ca. 347-407) were noble woken, hindered in no way by virtue; and this Jesus there 'For patronage, see Vyhmeister, "The Rich in James Illumine the -'w. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Grand Rapids: Fleming Revell, 1981), S.V. "prostatis." 40rigen, Epistoka ad Romanos 10.17.2, cited in Ancient Christian Commentary of S+ture, vol. 6, Romans, ed. Gerald Bray (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1998). DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA CHURCH 137 Women Deacons in the Early Church early centuries, there (~L&Kovo) deaconesses (~LCCK~VLUOC~), and widows (xfipar) will examine evidence regarding existence, tasks, and ordination dia~onate.~ for the female diaconate in the Women Deacons 111 Younger, governor the Emperor Christians. In he tells ministrae, the Latin equivalent of ~LC~KOVO~.'~ women, Clement conformity with their ministry concentrated undistracted preaching, and rather than [auv6ia~6vou in relation whom the Lord's teaching into the women's quarters Dldascalia Apostolorum, history, presents information on the work women in the church. from the have been in the third century Syriac, and instructions about the role women church workers: 0 with you Those that shall choose and the one hand, a many things ?For further information on the female deacons, www.womenpriests.org/traditio/deac~ovr.htm � . See also, John Wijngaards, No Women in Holy Orders? %Ancient Woma Deacons (Norwich, UK: Canterbury, 2002). While Wijngaards interprets the including women Aim6 Georges Martimort, careful analysis Ignatius, 1986), that they were ever considered clergy. "The Role through the www.wls.wels.net/library/Essays/Authors/m (August 17,2004); and Philip Schaff, History ofthe Gristiun Church, vol. 3, Nicm and Post- Nicene Chiststianity. Lower Clergy," schaff/hcc3/htm/iii.viii.v.htm#-fnf5 � (July 28,2004). '?liny Letters 10.96. "Clement Stromata 3.6.53 DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA the twelfth Libm Patrum be wise. provided a clear and fear and sixty years older in not fitting that the priest should Thus duly constituted women are clearly the first centuries Christian church. Some have that the while others are firmly that the church were simply heirs phoebe." Apostolic Constitutions leaders, male lay hands upon the woman and 0 Eternal God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of man and woman, who didst Spirit Miriam, and Anna, and Hulda, who didst Son should a woman; didst appoint women look down and grant and spirit, she may the work glory and Christ, with whom glory and adoration men.^' At the (451), the ordination of deaconesses is expressly called both ~~morovtia&r~ and ~~rpo0caia by the the Council then only after searching e~amination."~~ 19~iber Patrum, ser. 2, fax. pro Ecclesia Orientali, Caltj'i-caziones unonica on'entale, Fonti (Rome: Tipografia Vaticana, 1930), 34, cited 'OA~ opposite poles &#xwww.;&#xwome;&#xnpri;sts;&#x.org; use the the ordination of women Martimon, the evidence for of the clergy ambiguous. 21~p~~t~l~ Constitutions 8.3.20, ANF 7:492. 22 Canon 15, Conciliorum Oecumenicorum Deueta, 94. DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA the poor, prison?7 female deacons by immersion baptismal candidate with oil, apparently over whole body. that the being baptized. It would that she into the deacon shall only their holy oil, and anoint them: that the women should men."' The Disdascalia "And when she up from the and teach and educate order that the baptism shall in chastity ths we say that the urgent."29 her role would, evidently, only with women should baptize.jO active in included presiding into the commendatory letters and assigning them the in the ~hurch.~' Evidence indicates "mother superior," so monasteries should and should share with those under their power," when 27~ary Truesdell, "The of Deaconess," in Didconate Today, ed. Richard T. Nolan (Washington, DC: Corpus, 1968), Episcopalian deaconess, her writing secondary sources, such Women: A Report His Grace the Lord Arcbishop of Canterbuly chapter is available without footnotes, www.philosophy-religion .org/diaconate/chapter-7.htm � (July 18,2004). 28~postolic Constitutions 3.2.15, ANF 7:431. For details Woman Deacon's www.womenpriests.org/traditio/deac~bap.htm � (July 27,2004). 29Didascalia 16, Voobus, 2:157. M~postolic Constitutions 3.1.6,9; AM 7:427-428,429. Role in the .org/traditio/deac-dis.htm � (July 27,2004). DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA CHURCH 143 deaconesses, they should bow their heads beneath the blessing which is given to all the people."103 totally within the entire are named it, they only the penitents."1@' up on this prohibition. Canon states: "Women . . "To no benedictio diuco~lis be given, of the weakness of the sex."105 rather than their work, become an their monthly "impurity." Bishop Epiphanius of Salamis (315-405), that women mediocre intelligence," out that propriety."106 In a letter Jerusalem, he insisted he had . . done anything church."lO' Antioch, could in the Church borne by certain nuns."lo8 gave was their and the san~tuary."~" eleventh century, wrote: lo3Canon Charles Joseph Hefele, Histoire des concile d'apris lesdocumentsoriginaux Letouzey et 1908), 2:1:446-447. canon runs and outlines diaconate and points noncompliance, such 868), which reaffirms Chalcedon's certain eleventh-century pontifical The author take strict lo4~ouncil in Edward Landon, A Manual of Councils of the Holy Catholic Church (Edinburgh: John Grant, 1909). lo5Hefele, A History the Councils, 4:187; mentioned, but merely "benediction." 'ObEpiphanius of Salamis, Against Heresies 79.1, 3, 4. traditio/epiphan.htm � Ouly 28,2004). 107~piphanius, Letter to John Bishop of Jerusalem, $2 .org/traditio/epiphan.htm � (July 28,2004). s.v "Deaconesses." 'OgReplies to the Questions of Mark, reply 35, .org/traditio/balsamon. htm � (July 15,2004). DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA sat in congregation, with rod in her disturbing the sick and especially women, do them for them and she christ.ll3 Kaspar Ziegler, Protestant jurist, theologian, and hymnodist, showed a renewed interest topic et diaconissis veteris ecclesiae liber commentarius, published in Wittemberg Scotland were their study Christian antiquities for the complete, beautiful, and in full and which provided used.l14 gradually introduced ordained before age of duties were instruct children and women before baptism, in Church and rebuke and correct those "to introduce any a Deacon, Presbyter, Bishop."115 While Mennonites in Holland be said Kaiserwerth when Lutheran pastor Fliedner formed Rhenish Provinces considered ordained. They volunteers could leave at Kaiserswerth Institute, women were teaching, and parish work.l16 It3~eslie McFall, Good Order in the Church, www.btinternet.com/%7Elmf 12/HTML- GOITC/women-as-elders.htm � Lucy Rider Early Church, European, (Cincinnati: Cranston & Stowe, 1889), 29-30; Schaff, 3:376. 1 I6 studied there Kaiserwerth Rhine [London: DEACONESSES IN HISTORY �AM THE deaconesses came ~os~ita1.l~~ the only women could render, and capacities.'" The work Lucy Rider Meyer laid movement in an M.D. Meyer organized a number her women students a program urban poor. In Biblical, Early Elltopean, American: A History of the ~ovement."~ Methodist General Conference were accepted, debate and "trained women would carried a full description ordained; therefore she "authorized and appointed by the Church, things she pastor's assistant in Church work."12' and appointed by school and work in together in wore uniforms and part-time church workers. up in the up in various churches Europe and '''Mark Concepcion Chen, "Deaconesses of www.aahn.org/gravesites/deaconess.html � (July 28,2004). 124 E.g., the history of www.curf.edu/departments/deaconess/ IMustDoSomething.htm � (July 28,2004). 125 Encyclopedia Britannica, s.v. "Meyer, Lucy 126Elizabeth M. Lee, Methodists: Deaconesses TToday, and York: Woman's Division of Christian Service, Methodist Church, 1963), 52-53. DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA CHURCH 149 In 1870, J. H. Waggoner about "The Office and 1 3:8-12, spiritual characteristics deacons. These men were needed because "it adopted by a custom, in the meetings, and general care ~hurch."'~' Where Frisbie Waggoner Ellen White and books, sermons, and their work nineteenth century. reports on major American cities, Chicago, Boston, and In this environment, Ellen White would have had did not. 13* for White's position on the proves disappointing. a letter written in which White set such upon your sympathies. When a woman you with her troubles, tell her plainly her troubles church."133 Adventist understanding the work their time the young, necessities of the poor. They prayer and laying they will with the the minister; maintaining a God, they power for good in the ~hurch."~ "'J. of Deacon," 13*A Bibliography of Ellen G. White's Private and Ofie Libraries, 3d (Silver Spring, MD: 1993). She did, however, Clarke's Bible Commentary, cited by Frisbie in 1856. '33~llen Manuscript Releases MR 1519. '"~llen White, "The of the the People," HISTORY AND SDA record, however, that followed by denomination."'" sentence appears in through the sixteenth edition 1986.14' Annual Council recommended revising include Ellen statement about their time "The church for the ordained minister holds current ~onference."'~~ General Conference after a Phoebe a deac~ness."~ At the 1990 session, it was voted to word "induction" rather Thus the "The church a suitable by an minister holding current Furthermore, the included.lH sentence appears in the 2000.'~~ "appropriate ceremony" but ordination deaconesses is 2000, known for being progressive reported that only ordained women the nonordinat tradition.'46 "O~eneral Conference of (n.p, 1932), Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual (n.p., 1986), 64. 142~nnual Council Minutes, 253-846, 15, 1984, adventistarchives.org/docs/GCC/GCC 1984-lO/index.djvu?djvuopts&page = 78 (1 1 August 2004 � Meeting, Fifty-fourth Conference Session, Adventist Review, 1985,9. of Seventhday Seventh-&y (Silver Spring, MD: Conference of 1990), 64. 145Seventh-day~dventist ChurchManual, rev. ed. (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 2000), 56. 146"Southeastern California Conference Values Gender Inclusiveness," Adventist Reviezer, March 23,2000, www.adventistreview.org/2000-12/news.htm � (August 10,2004). DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA CHURCH 153 perform the duties that belong to the office of a means much hard work and self denial."151 The December 19 14 issue of The Church Oficm' advice given in the June by stating that with their interest in the children and the October OficersJGazette only one short sick and is given "quarterly service." The same Gazette recapitulates the duties of deaconesses in its issue of July 1923. While the practical help may render sick-room" did emphasis shifted and visiting a concern linen cloths" comm~nion.'~~ Annual Council recommendations members should visited at a year "by church elder, person."154 The first Adventist Church Manwl, dedicates five the work major tasks were the communion footwashing ceremony, baptisms, and doing "their part in for the with the in this Oficers' highly coreographed communion and unison, and fold the women's fingers can this so much more skillfully than men's."'56 '520. Duties of Deacons Oficen' Gazette, December 1914,l. 15'~. A. Hollister, "Deacon and Deaconess," The Church Off~ers' Gazette, July 1923,2; the article by 0. first published shortened form the injunction "mothers in Israel" and of the "home mission." 154"~eport of the Review, 1929, 15. 155Ch~r~h Manual, 1932,34. lS6Dorothy Beltz, "Communion Offcers' Gazette, October 1948,4. DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA Finally, "the these visits once every three months, but After listing these duties, Ninaj notes that some quite uniformly by unrecognized."'" that the remedy this lists six tasks should carry out: home in their own neighborhood, visitation in the around the church, conducting a school at children, conducting developing a hospital visitation program, and visiting families have had this kind ministry, Ninaj by quoting pastors in organizing and preparing service.'64 A two-part Ministry communion and footwashing, and contains a ministry description, dated and prepared by common duties throughout the greeting and ushering, keeping up and visiting members. with the baptismal service, preparing robes, laundering and storing equipment, and communion are listed earlier. item, however, have been and uncovering and recovering the table during the more similar century-"they will pastor and members. Some geographic area lbZBess "The Deaconess 1956,36. 165Dalores Broome Winget, "The Deaconess parts, Ministry, October 1972,28-30; November 1972,41112. DEACONESSES IN HISTORY AND THE SDA CHURCH 157 are backed up by interdiscipl@-y in the church.'72 head deaconess, participate.'73 Deaconesses are and help disciple new With this book, might say returned full women carry a ministry things and At different doubt that these women have been integral part in the What they whether they about the in the the early centuries with the involved in visitation church. In church, their granted and their ordination people were a position a task, deaconesses changed and nearly "indelible character" ordination and power it provided and more completely in the in the Eastern church. At the time, adult preferred way the church. deacons disappeared. century that deaconesses came own. And then it women devoting full time movement. Everyone-including message.171 deacons. Ellen for women part- I7'see Adventist Ministry of Their Women in Historical Perspectives (Berrien Springs: Andrews University Press, 1998), 2 11-234.