Please do point out the women elders in the New Testament. As far as women deacons, yes I do believe there were women deacons. However, while deacons and elders both share a common service to their Lord, only elders have responsibility for leadership. That's a mighty big difference. And if your passage is just a might "questionable".......well, Jesus made it pretty clear that he chose only men to lead. Have a nice day. :) Shalom.
Women "deacons" were chosen to work with the women among the people in the matter of
baptisms and such as it was regarded as unseemly for men to to put their hands on the women.
Very early baptisms of adults were done by immersion which requires more hands-on
than does sprinkling or placing a hands on heads.
That is true, but that is not doctrinaire. Jesus chose a tax gatherer, a zealot, and fishermen. Did I miss anything? He chose no priests. Should we take that as doctrinaire? How about the lack of vets? Everybody Jesus chose was a Jew. Should only Jews be leaders? Is that doctrinaire?
I'll respond to the question about female elders after I get some review time at home.
Shalom.