The office, rank, or status of being a deacon in a church.
From 'deacon' combined with the suffix '-ship' (like leadership, friendship). The '-ship' suffix creates abstract nouns describing offices, relationships, or states of being.
The '-ship' suffix is ancient and productive in English, used to create dozens of words describing status and position—it comes from Old English and appears in some of our oldest words like 'kinship' and 'friendship.'
The -ship suffix denotes an office or position; deaconship inherited male-default clergy assumptions. Historically excluded women from formal claim to the role.
Use neutrally to refer to the office itself, applicable to all ordained deacons regardless of gender. The term is inclusive if the institution ordains inclusively.
["diaconal office","deacon's role"]
Women's access to deaconship in recent decades represents institutional recognition of their eligibility for ordained ministry.
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