Quote
Jimbo said:
B They are two separate offices and should be treated as such. While certainly not ideal, a church can function without deacons, but cannot without elders.

Do you consider it Biblically ok for a church to not have a deacon? What do you mean by a church can function without a deacon but not an elder? If it's Biblically ok for a church to not have a deacon, then why is it not Biblically ok for a church to not have an elder? If it's not Biblically ok for a church to not have a deacon (or an elder), then how can it function without one? Of course, I know practically it can function without them, but it would be in violation of Scripture. But, in a "practical" sense, a church could function without elders too. Note, I am not 100% sure what Scripture says on this point, so if deacon's are Scripturally optional than I will agree with your assertion that churches can function without them, but if they are not, then I would disagree. However, even though I'm not 100%, I was under the assumption that they are not optional.
Please feel to correct my (possibly incorrect) assumption with Scripture.


John