"A Herder & Herder book."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Church must formalize the ministry of women -- Men and women are ontologically equal -- The Church has given reasons why women, although ontologically equal to men, may not be ordained to priesthood -- The judgment that women cannot be ordained priests does not apply to the question of whether women can be ordained deacons -- Women are and have been called to the diaconate -- There are stronger arguments from Scripture, history, tradition, and theology that women may be ordained deacons than that women may not be ordained deacons -- Women have continually served the Church in diaconal ministry, whether ordained to such service or not -- The ordained ministry of service by women is necessary to the Church, that is, to both the people of God and the hierarchy -- The ordination of women to the diaconate is possible.