Dave

Mark, great to see you back. It is as if nothing has changed. No really, nothing has changed!

You said, “We have no evidence that the ‘deacons’ were responsible for the sheparding of the Church or the teaching of the scriptures”

You also said, “As i understand the NT, the office of ‘deacon’ were never responsible for the overseeing/shepharding of the church (as were the elders). The Book of Acts confirms this. Thus the elders are the responsible ones for the public teaching of the scriptures from which women are restricted.”

Have you considered Stephen. He was a deacon who was obviously a bit slack with the washing up, because he died preaching. I am not sure why he put the tea towel down…just shows what can happen when you don’t understand the ‘office’ you are given. Some one gets hurt! 😉