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Order of Contents

Articles
The Power of Ordaining Deacons comes from a Presbytery

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Articles

Guthrie, James – A Treatise of Ruling Elders and Deacons  

Guthrie (1612?–1661) was a Scottish covenanter.

Girardeau, John

The Diaconate  1879  33 pp.

Girardeau was instrumental in reviving the diaconate in the southern presbyterian church. 

The Diaconate Again  1881  37 pp.

The Importance of the Office of Deacon  1881  29 pp.

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The Power of Ordaining Deacons comes from a Presbytery

The power of ordaining deacons comes from a presbytery (Acts 6:6), though only the implicit consent of a presbytery is needed for such valid ordinations in regularly constituted churches.

ed. Chad Van Dixhoorn, Minutes of the Westminster Assembly

Session 116 [sic] May 10, 1644, Friday morning

Concerning debate over the power of congregational elderships – majority voted ‘no single congregation, which can conveniently join with others in association may assume to itself all and sole power in ordination’

“Mr. Goodwin: This much urged, found out an instance for a classical presbyterys ordaining, but not otherwise.  For that instance of deacons ordaining in the 6 Acts, I desire it may be considered.
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Mr. Gillespie: I argue from deacons much more to pastors; if a classical presbytery ordain the lowest officers, then much more the other.

Said it doth not serve our turn because deacons are not ordained in Scotland or at least not by a presbytery.  They are ordained for the substance, though they have not imposition of hands, in that they have missio potestativa [an authoritative sending] & a public admission.”

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