Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
Book of Church Order
7-2. The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders
and deacons.
9-1. The office of deacon is set forth in the Scriptures as ordinary and
perpetual in the Church.
24-7. Ordination to the offices of ruling elder or deacon is perpetual; nor
can such offices be laid aside at pleasure;
The doctrine reflected in the Book of Church Order is that the office itself and the ordination is perpetual.
It shows how carefully one ought consider his call for office.
It also shows how absurd is the contorted argumentation of a very few churches in the denomination who are violating their constitution, oath and confessed doctrine by having women substitute for the office. The rationale being that a woman who goes to another church that does not have 'deaconess' sets it aside when they leave that church, or that presbytery.
Part of that whole discussion betrays a lack of understanding of office, the doctrine behind it and the vow.
My understanding, and I see that modeled is that while the call is perpetual (not "try it" for one term, then quit forever unless some physical limitation hinders) is that ordination applies in the same sense to one whose call changes from deacon to elder or deacon to elder.
It is quite possible to think of someone gifted and called to both offices, as we have them defined in the PCA. Biblically, I think of Stephen, the first deacon who also had a strong teaching gift.
This kind of commonality of office also shows why we must not allow violation of our confessed unity, doctrine with women deacons. It undermines all this, whether people arguing that way realize it or not.
