Sandifer provides an excellent history of the official roles that women have filled throughout Christianity. But this excellent book is not just about women as deacons. Sandifer asks that we reconsider our understanding of church offices in general....Sandifer has gone to great pains to research both the Scriptures and the historical role of deacons.

John S. Scott, The Christian Chronicle

J. Stephen Sandifer has presented a work which provides most extensive documentation on the subject of deacons, male or female. One is no obliged to agree with his conclusions on many key topoics and verses to appreciate the compilation of references from many sourches within and outside churches of Christ.

William Woodson, The Spiritual Sword

The book contains a wealth of information for churches making decisions about the role of deacons and about the appointment of women as deacons. One can share Sandifer's hope that such decisions will be based on biblically and historically informed reflection. His book should contribute toward that end.

Douglas Gragg, The Restoration Quarterly

Every church library and concerned person should have this landmark book.... It is gratifying to have collected, collated, and documented in one book the full range of Biblical and historical data one needs to arrive at a reasoned and "revelatory" view of women's role in the church and a better insight into male service and leadership roles also.

Russell Boatman, The Christian Standard

Sandifer has assembled some important texts and made some significant suggestions regarding them. As we continue our discussion of this very important issue, his volume will be an important one, primariliy to remind us of where we have been and why. If it can stir us to renewed examination of the Biblical materials we may gain a clearer vision of where we ought to go.

Tom Greer, Leaven

This book....challenges the all-male ministry position usually taken by Churches of Christ. The author makes a persuasive and yet cautious case for female deacons, drawing upon a wide variety of sources, including our own history. He conclues that a change can come without disrupting unity, with some churches having no deacons, some only male deacons, and some both male and female deacons.

Leroy Garrett, Restoration Review