Deaconess Community Awards Grants to Encourage Diaconal Service
July 24, 2007
The Deaconess Community, a women’s diaconal service roster within the ELCA and ELCIC, recently awarded $180,000 in grants to 11 nonprofit programs in an effort to expand the church’s outreach to those on the fringes of society. The projects have a gospel centered purpose, promote risk taking and innovative service as well as cooperative partnerships that invite participation, bridge divisions and accompany others in mission.
The 11 grants ranged in size from $10,000-$25,000 and included programs in California, Connecticut, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as Israel-Palestine and Mexico. The programs serve the uninsured, disabled, homeless, politically disenfranchised, elderly, at-risk youth and immigrants.
Along with grant monies, The Deaconess Community provides prayer support, personnel, opportunities to share ministry and the resources of a committee member and other members of the Deaconess Community.
Deaconesses are women who are trained in their chosen profession as well as in theology and are consecrated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Canada to serve God around the globe. Deaconesses serve in many ways – as teachers, counselors, administrators, health professionals, Christian educators, youth workers, information specialists, ecumenists, and more. They serve in congregations, synod offices, hospitals, social service agencies, outdoor ministries, caring institutions, universities, and more. Deaconesses, along with other diaconal ministries, are the church outside the church and, often times, are the church’s face in society.
The Deaconess Community currently has 76 Deaconesses ranging in age from 27 to 91 who serve as far away as Jerusalem. The Community first began in 1884 and continues to reach out to people in need and to lift up the needs of the world to the church. Their ministries guide the church to care for people who would be forgotten. Compelled by the love of Christ and sustained by community, Deaconesses devote their lives to proclaiming the Gospel through ministries of mercy and servant leadership.
Complete list of the 2007 Mission Support Grant recipients
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with a representative from the Deaconess Community, please call Laura Ley at 773-380-1704 or email Laura at
laura.ley@elca.org.