[Opinion] Rethinking “Women Deacons” : Beyond sentiment in Church roles

There are both men and women in the Church. However, there are some men such as Priests, Deacons and Lay ministers. Some years back, a lot of debates have gone on to recognize the significant roles of women in the Church. Now, we have some women such as Lectors, Acolytes and Extraordinary Ministers.

The controversy now is on women Priests and Deacons. But the current debate has been the advocacy for women Deacons. I have a personal problem about this advocacy. The problem is that we are becoming sentimental, thinking that women are alienated, disadvantaged, and unqualified, just like the assumptions advocating for universal suffrage of equal rights for women.

If this is the motivation then it will seem to suggest an expression of unparalleled dissatisfaction or feelings of alienation to introduce regiments of the world -like the fight of equal rights and privileges- in the Church.

However, we have to understand the caviate between gendered controversies about men versus women in the Church and the Society as well as divine rights versus human rights. This is because the assumptions necessary for the latter have no bearing on the former. Nevertheless, women have equal rights and privileges in the Church. There are some women such as Lectors, Acolytes and Extraordinary ministers. The means the Church is not against the fight for equal rights for women.

I think we have to be real and unsentimental that the Church is patriarchal. We have to see the patriarchal roles (Priest and Deacon) in the Church as a blessing designated for men (divine right) since the time memorial, and not assume with human ability to see that as a source of discrimination or alienation against women. There are certain things that are divinely instituted like Priesthood (Clergy) and Marriage.

We cannot use our human feelings to change its order. For example, marriage as a divine institution in Genesis was a union between a man and a woman. Therefore, no man can feel dissatisfied, discriminated against, stigmatized or alienated for not being allowed to marry a man. In this case, we cannot rely on his feelings to change the union of a man and a woman as instituted by God.

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We should think about the ordained ministry as a divine institution which Christ himself instituted. If Christ did not include women among his Apostles, and at the last super when the gift of Holy Priesthood was instituted and entrusted, why do we have to think that it is now necessary to accept this advocacy to change a divine order. What is our motivation? Is it a feminist idea? Is it something we have to even worry about?

How does the ordained ministry for men only affect women? Are women not allowed to participate in other ministries? Do the ordained ministers see it as a form of supremacy? As we all continue to share our opinions on this subject matter, I would like you to think about these questions without any sentiments and tell me if we need women Deacons.

Let us embrace the idea that people can still play significant roles in the Church without being a part of the clergy. If women are waiting to be ordained or recognized as Deaconesses or Priestesses before they can feel they are equal with men to participate in the Church’s ministry then we need to reexamine our catechism. By virtue of our baptism we are priests, kings and prophets.

This is the divine authority we receive during baptism, commissioning us to participate in Christ’s mission. This, all of us (wo/men) can do. We have to concentrate on how we can build the Church as Priests, Deacons and Lay Ministers and not advocate for women Deacons.

Being a Priest or a Deacon is a divine right and men are privileged to be called into it. Women should not have the feeling that it gives some kind of supremacy to men in the Church than them. If women in the Church continue to feel that way it means they discriminate or alienate themselves in their minds before they are discriminated against or alienated.