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DEACONESS'S BOARD
Because the office of Deaconess is an extension of the office of the Deacons, much of their ministry will be share with their husbands in ministry. The special emphasis will be "women ministering to women' in a personal, spiritual and instructional way. "Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things" (1 Timothy 3:11). I believe that what Paul does here in 1 Timothy 3:11 is that he gives significance and sanctity to marriage says our Pastor, Walstone E. Francis. He says that we honor God in ministry by putting Him on display in our lives as husbands and wives, as we minister to others. We honor God by our commitment to each other, by our conduct in that commitment, and by our service to others thru that commitment. The home was never to be divorced from the church. The microcosm is to reflect the macrocosm--the home is to reflect the church; it is to be the church on a smaller scale. It seems clear then that the wives of the deacons are to share in their deacons' ministry, as the deacons are to share in the ministry of the pastor. This is the basis for the wives serving in this capacity. Involving the wives in this ministry will allow the deacon's ministry to women and families to be properly facilitated. Women and families will be assisted more efficiently as women relate to women, wives relate to wives, in an official capacity, and the feminine position and perspective are not lost in this authentic ministry. Since the ministry of the wife is tied to that of the husband, three important things need to be said concerning the marital status. 1. If the husband dies, the pastor and Deacons agree that the wife has the privilege of choice. She can choose to remain or resign in this ministry (Roman 7:1-2). 2. If the husband is dismissed from membership (Matthew 18:15-17), the wife loses her status in this ministry. 3. If biblical divorce takes place, the wife loses her status in this ministry (Matt. 19:9; 18:17; 2 Cor. 6:14-16; 1 Cor. 7:12-16).
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