History or Biblical?

Where does it say in the Bible that women cannot pass out the elements of the Lord's Supper?

 

Only our deacons serve the Lord's Supper and all our deacons are men.

Diane

 

Paul identifies phoebe as a deacon in Romans 16:1.

While we have the qualifications of deacons listed in I timothy 3:8-13 Paul does not refer to anyone else by name as a deacon. He does mention the deacons at Phillipi, but no specific deacon is named. The only time he names one, she is a woman, Phoebe.

 

That depends on the version you use Rock.

Romans 16:1
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, NKJV


Romans 16:1
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; NASB

In my SBC church, women are not deacons.

 

In my SBC church, women are not deacons. </font>[/QUOTE]Yes Paul lists the qualifications to Timothy, but the only deacon he calls by name in the New Testament is a woman. Interesting, isn't it?

 

One could draw the conclusion from I Corinthians 11:33 that the whole church had some part in serving the supper.

 

Acts 6:1-7
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,* because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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Again, men are named as those chosen to serve the needs of the congregation.

 

That sounds like a neat tradition - what do you do with single parent (male or female) families, singles and widows.

One tradition we have is to take up an offering for our benevolence fund after the Lords Supper

 

In my SBC church, women are not deacons. </font>[/QUOTE]Diane, I agree with you here. It does depend on what version you use. I looked up on the Geneva and it said sister as well. I know alot of the Methodist churches have deaconesses who perform tasks in their church and they probably get their authority from that verse.

Yes, I am still here. Just 2 more days. But thought this was important factor so I posted!

 

Interestingly, Diane, the men in the verse you quote are not called Deacons in the passage. However, I generally read this passage as the institution of the office of deacon. Also, it seems to me that the pupose of the men listed in this passage is to make that no one in the congregation goes hungry. This text makes no mention of serving the Lord's supper in a worship or congregational setting.

It seems to that most Baptist churches rely more on tradition than on the scriptures when it comes to the Deacons serve the Lord's Supper.

 

Let's turn this to a slightly different spin... Would YOU take communion in church if offered by a woman?

I would not if it were mixed company but if it were a women's group, I would.

Diane

 

I think you have to stick with scripture. I do not see Paul making a reference to the gender of those who serve the supper in I Corintians. Tradition and even ones personal comfort level are important, but scripture is the final word.

I would glady recieve the elements of the supper from a man or woman.