Deaconess

Deaconess refers to women who served in an official or semi-official ministerial capacity in the early church. Phoebe is described as a diakonos (deacon/servant) of the church at Cenchrea and commended by Paul to the Roman congregation with language suggesting recognized status (Romans 16:1–2). Other women mentioned in leadership and ministry contexts include Priscilla (Romans 16:3), Euodia and Syntyche who "labored side by side" with Paul in the gospel (Philippians 4:2–3), and the women mentioned in Romans 16:12. The instruction in 1 Timothy 3:11 about "women" (or possibly "wives of deacons") has been interpreted as referring to female deacons. Historical evidence from the second century confirms a recognized order of deaconesses who assisted with the baptism of women and ministered to sick and poor women in the congregation.