The question of women serving as deacons continues to generate sustained discussion within the Presbyterian Church in America. For decades, faithful leaders—equally committed to the authority of Scripture and the good of Christ’s church—have reached differing conclusions. That disagreement has proven durable, not because Scripture is being set aside, but because it is being carefully interpreted in different ways.
In an effort to clarify the contours of the conversation, we are publishing three perspectives.
- The first makes the biblical and historical case that the office of deacon is reserved for qualified men only. (Jared Nelson)
- The second argues that the relevant texts admit more than one reasonable interpretation and that the church should allow for women to serve as deacons under local discretion. (Jeff Choi)
- The third addresses a prior question: how should the PCA live together when disagreements like this persist and are unlikely to be resolved in the near term? (Geoff Ziegler)
That final question is not secondary. If an earnest commitment to Scripture does not, on its own, produce uniformity on this issue, then the task before us is not only to argue our positions, but to discern how to proceed together under shared vows—seeking the purity, peace, and unity of the church even where agreement proves elusive.
These articles are not offered because AMR holds a single unified position on the diaconate, but as part of our commitment to fostering thoughtful, charitable, theologically grounded dialogue on matters of importance to the church. Over the course of its history, the PCA has made room for a range of convictions among its officers regarding ordination and the diaconate, and has permitted a degree of pastoral flexibility in how diaconal ministry is structured and carried out in local congregations.
Against Allowing Women to Be Deacons in the PCA—Jared Nelson
In this piece, Pastor Jared Nelson presents the case that Scripture and the historic practice of the church point toward a male-only diaconate. While affirming the essential role of women in the life of the church, he argues that their service is best understood as distinct from the ordained office of deacon.
In Favor of Allowing Women to Be Deacons in the PCA—Jeffrey Choi
Pastor Jeff Choi argues that the biblical evidence regarding women in the diaconate is not as settled as is often assumed. He contends that the PCA’s current framework forces a binary the text does not require, and that where the evidence remains contested, the church has historically allowed for local discretion.
How to Navigate Our Ongoing Differences—Geoff Ziegler
Turning from the arguments themselves to the question of how the church should respond, Pastor Geoff Ziegler reviews the biblical evidence surrounding women and the diaconate before considering how the PCA’s vows shape its response to contested issues. He argues that maintaining unity requires mutual submission, space for continued discussion, and a commitment to change only as consensus emerges across the denomination.