Rutherford writes in his
Peacable and Temperate Plea concerning the order of widows,
"Q. 9. How is it that you have taken away widowes, which was an office established by the Apostles? Rom. 12. 8. For some say they should be gone, because they were tem∣porary, and the heate of the Easterne Countries which cau∣sed sicknesse, required them, but they are not needfull now. So saith Cartwright. Others make them perpetuall, as Fen∣ner,
* some make them to be women, as Cartwright, some men,
* as Travors, some neither men nor women onely, as Beza and Junius.
*
Answ.
* The perpetuall use of that office we thinke continueth, that is, that there be some to shew mercy on the poore, which are captives, exiled, strangers, dis∣eased, distracted, and that there be Hospitals for that effect, and Chirurgians, Physicians, aged men and wo∣men, but that widowes were officers in the Church, as Elders and Deacons are, we thinke no; but that that service may be performed by men or women, as the Church shall thinke good. Cartwright thinketh no other then what I say. Fenner thinketh well that the sicke should alwayes be cared for, neither by men only, nor by women onely, as Beza and Junius thinke, but by both as need requireth."
Concerning Deacons and ruling, Rutherford writes (Due Right
p. 149),
"Object. 3. By those who rule well, are understood Deacons, who take care of the poore.
Answ. Didoclavius observeth, that Deacons are never called Rulers, but distinguished from them, Rom. 12. 8. Secondly, the well ruling here taketh up the halfe of the Pastors Office, and all that belongeth thereunto, except labouring in the word and doctrine; as to receive accusations against an Elder, to judge and governe with the Pastor, to visit the sicke, to exhort and rebuse in a judiciall way;
but to serve Tables, and to take care of the poore onely, is the least and most inferiour part of well-govern∣ing of Gods house, and is but a care for their bodies: VVhereas to rule well, is an Ecclesiasticall Magistracy, to goe in and out before Gods people, to watch for their soules, as those which must give an accompt, Hebr. 13. 17. 1 Thess. 5. 12.
The Deacon careth for the body onely, and the Deacon, that Bilson and others would have with him, is neither in this place, nor in all Gods Word, as we shall heare."
I post some exercepts from the Free Church Practice concerning Deacons, which shows an example of how this office necessarily acts with authority.
"The New Testament warrants a distinction between the office of Elder on the one hand, and Deacon on the other. Whereas Elders are charged with the general and spiritual oversight of congregations, and in the case of those we designate "ministers", labour in word and doctrine, the Deacons’ specific function relates to the temporal concerns of the Church. Though it is allowed that deacons may discharge their functions without having elders present at their meetings there are two considerations which underlie the accepted practice of minister and elders being in membership of the Deacons’ Court.
These are:
(1) The securing of maximum consultation between elders and deacons for
the better total management of the congregation.
(2) Many congregations cannot supply from their own membership a sufficient number of Deacons to function separately from the eldership. Act VII, 1846, therefore states "that it be competent for elders to be employed as deacons when a sufficient number of deacons cannot be had".
Though a degree of spiritual maturity is requisite for either office, the difference in function between elder and deacon implies that a man having the gifts needed for the diaconate may not thereby qualify to be an elder. Nor does fitness for the eldership require previous experience as a deacon.
The meeting of deacons is referred to as the Deacons’ Court but this does not imply that this court is part of the legislative structure of the Church. In the Presbyterian system that structure comprises Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assembly. The Deacons’ Court is essentially a Board of Management and administration having the bounds of its authority prescribed by Church law. So long therefore as the Deacons’ Court acts within its mandate its decisions are regarded as final, and no dissent and complaint is competent. A simple dissent is, however, competent."
"2. The functions of the Deacons’ Court may be more particularly outlined as
follows:
2.1 No Power of Discipline: Being essentially a board of management the Deacons’ Court does not exercise disciplinary functions even over its own members, this being within the competence of the Kirk Session by whose authority members are admitted, suspended, or deposed and to whom resignations should be addressed. It is the duty of the Kirk Session to inform the Deacons’ Court of any changes in its membership and the extracts of minutes giving this information must be engrossed in the minutes of the Deacons’ Court and its Roll revised accordingly.
2.2 Congregational Property: Though responsible for the management, repair and maintenance of all congregational properties and charged to raise funds for these purposes, the Deacons’ Court are not entitled to grant the use of buildings for any purpose, without the consent of the Minister. Nor can it withhold the use of buildings for meetings of a strictly religious, ecclesiastical or charitable nature sanctioned by the minister. It is, however, within their competence to make such charge for these uses as will defray costs falling on the congregation. The minister’s sanction notwithstanding, the Deacons’ Court’s approval must be given before buildings can be used for any purpose which is not of a strictly religious, ecclesiastical or charitable nature.
2.3 Church Officer and Fee to Precentor: If it is deemed necessary or desirable to employ a Beadle or Church Officer for the week to week management, cleaning and good upkeep of properties, it is the duty of the Deacons’ Court to do this and to determine terms of employment and payment. If a fee is paid to the precentor, this is fixed by the Deacons’ Court but the court does not appoint the precentor, this being a function of the minister after due consultation with the Kirk Session."