Theological Perspectives on Women and the Diaconate, and an Ordination

16 May 2024

We have been following the Synod on Synodality and its active conversations about the diaconate, including the potential inclusion of women. Here is one of the key paragraphs:

Different positions have been expressed regarding women’s access to the diaconal
ministry. For some, this step would be unacceptable because they consider it a
discontinuity with Tradition. For others, however, opening access for women to the
diaconate would restore the practice of the Early Church. Others still, discern it as an
appropriate and necessary response to the signs of the times, faithful to the Tradition, and
one that would find an echo in the hearts of many who seek new energy and vitality in the
Church. Some express concern that the request speaks of a worrying anthropological
confusion, which, if granted, would marry the Church to the spirit of the age. Synthesis 9j

Recently, we have been grateful that the National Association of Deacons of Australia has clearly taken up the issue. Its latest newsletter devotes pages 4-8 to a theological voice, Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD., that does not see the possibility of ordaining women as deacons, then devotes pages 9-16 to a member of our group, Rev. Assoc. Prof. Anthony Gooley. Anthony presents an extremely comprehensive and well-reasoned case in response to the first article, explaining the potential and value of restoring women to the diaconate. Anthony concludes:

Cerrato, suggests that “the question, properly framed, is not: “Why not women deacons?” but “Why?” I suggest that we know why. It is one step along the way of the full restoration of the diaconate of women and men that once flourished in the Church, a diaconate that was
absorbed at about the same time into other ministries. Restored so that the Church will receive an even greater share of the grace of diaconal ministry.

The question is, when. Like the restored diaconate of men, a restored diaconate of women would be a new wine and need a new wineskin (form and function), so that the new wine is not lost because it has burst the skins of an antiquated form of women’s diaconate. Page 16

Please see the latest NAD newsletter for the full articles.

To some good news… On the 2nd of May, Deaconess Angelic Molen was ordained in St. Nektarios Mission Parish in Zimbabwe, in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa. Her ordination has resulted from the movement to restore women to the diaconate in the Orthodox Church. Many blessings, Deaconess Angelic and her church leaders and community!

See two stories about her ordination about here and here.

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