Deacon or Servant

The question of whether the early church had female deacons has been going on since the 15th century at least. Since Phobe was called a deaconness of Cenchrea it is assumed the church did have women deacons. Yet it isn't that simple because the base root "diako" from which we get deacon is a verb and not a noun. It doesn't imply an office setting someone above others. One can be a servant without having an official office. This may be difficult for people to grasp. 

Joh 2:5  HisG846 motherG3384 saithG3004 unto theG3588 servants,G1249 WhatsoeverG3748 G302 he saithG3004 unto you,G5213 doG4160 it. 

This is the same word deacon. It doesn't imply authority over people. It can be distinguished from the ruler of the feast who does have authority. This is just one case where the word deacon or deaconness does not imply an office.

Joh 2:9  (G1161) WhenG5613 theG3588 ruler of the feastG755 had tastedG1089 theG3588 waterG5204 that was madeG1096 wine,G3631 andG2532 knewG1492 notG3756 whenceG4159 it was:G2076 (butG1161 theG3588 servantsG1249 which drewG501 theG3588 waterG5204 knew;)G1492 theG3588 governor of the feastG755 calledG5455 theG3588 bridegroom,G3566 

The point is the word deacon which is often translated servant does not imply any direct authority to rule such as a governor or even an Elder. Phobe could be called a deaconness without having  rule with simple cooperation from Elders and others.

Another example would be Christ elevating servants to rule over ten cities. They can be deacons without authority or be deacons who are given authority.

Luk_19:17  AndG2532 he saidG2036 unto him,G846 Well,G2095 thou goodG18 servant:G1401 becauseG3754 thou hast beenG1096 faithfulG4103 inG1722 a very little,G1646 haveG2468 G2192 thou authorityG1849 overG1883 tenG1176 cities.G4172

There is a difference between a servant completing a task vs a servant who is elevated to a position of rule or authority. Consider the servant placed over a household, there could be many servants but one could be elevated to a superior position.

Mat_24:45  WhoG5101 thenG686 isG2076 a faithfulG4103 andG2532 wiseG5429 servant,G1401 whomG3739 hisG846 lordG2962 hath made rulerG2525 overG1909 hisG848 household,G2322 to giveG1325 themG846 meatG5160 inG1722 due season?G2540

So, does Phobe being called a deaconness imply any authority, not really. The word in Paul's day was understood differently. Over time it started to imply an officer in usage as it was translated from Greek to English. A deacon could be an officer ruling over people and works. Yet, not necessarily. The problem is that the feminist movement has wanted to imply Phobe was an officer when she probably wasn't.