Synod of 1888 Decision on Women Deacon
The motion under discussion at the hour for recess was taken, and the item, as amended, was adopted.
D. S. Faris asked leave to enter his dissent from the decision of Synod because the step was taken without due deliberation. D. C. Faris, Isaiah Faris, and J. C. K. Faris joined in this dissent. R. J. McCracken also offered his dissent from this action, as it is a departure from the law and order of the church and contrary to the word of God. J. F. Crozier, with elders Joseph Wallace, John E. Willson, and Robert McIsaac, placed their names on record as dissenting from this decision.
James Kennedy and T. P. Stevenson were appointed to prepare an argument on the question of ordaining a woman as deacon, and publish it in the magazines.
The Committee on Discipline reported in full. The report was accepted, and taken up item by item for adoption. Item 1, Complaint of John Graham against Rochester Presbytery, was taken up. The parties having been heard and removed, the complaint was on motion not sustained. Item 2 was adopted, and then the report was adopted as a whole, and is as follows:
Report of Committee on Discipline
The following papers have been referred to us, viz:
Complaint of Rev. John Graham against action of the Rochester Presbytery. This paper is regular and ready for the action of Synod.
New York Presbytery asks as to the regularity and validity of a call when such call is not accompanied by the usual bond signed by a majority of the officers of the congregation.
Your committee replies that a bond signed by parties that ensures payment according to law is sufficient.Pittsburgh Presbytery refers the question of the right of women to ordination to the office of deacon from McKeesport congregation, to Synod.
Your committee would reply that such ordination is, in our judgment, in harmony with the New Testament and with the constitution of the Apostolic church.
J. C. Smith,
James Kennedy,
J. C. McFeeters,
Wm. Dearness,
J. D. George