ELCA Deaconess Community Moving to Chicago

     GLADWYNE, Pa. (ELCA) -- The Deaconess Community of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has voted to sell the Deaconess Community Center here in suburban Philadelphia and move to Chicago.
     "It is one of the more historic decisions that this community has made considering that in two years the roots of this community will celebrate its 115th anniversary of coming to Philadelphia," said Sister Nora L.E. Frost, directing deaconess.
     The action was taken at the community's biennial assembly held at the center May 1-4.  Frost was re-elected to her third four-year term as directing deaconess at the assembly.
     "For us, the whole impetus for the move came from our desire to be able to free up monies for mission and ministry in the church," Frost said. "We have been saddened for a very long time that funds needed for ministry were being used to maintain buildings."
     An estimated $1.5 million is needed in repairs to bring the center up to code, and "you would still be housed in a building which does not meet your program needs," the task force on building and grounds reported.
     The Deaconess Community has used the center for offices, a home for retired deaconesses, and program activities since 1953.
     An expanding activity is the retreat ministry.  Last year 1,800 people participated in retreats at the center, although the facility is not designed for retreats.
     The retreats include "discernment weekends" to help people discern what God is calling them to do.  "Perhaps this is an area of service that we can offer the church for rostered leaders as well as the whole people of God that is not being done in other ways," Frost said.
     A variety of criteria was used to select Chicago, including the desire of the community to be more centrally located.
     The move to Chicago is contingent upon selling the Gladwyne property, which has been appraised at $4 million.
     Lutheran deaconesses came to the United States from Germany in 1849 to serve in hospitals and other church institutions.  Today deaconesses serve in health care, parish work, education, church music, administration and social services.
     Deaconesses in various church denominations serve around the world.
     Currently there are 89 deaconesses in the ELCA Deaconess Community including 39 active deaconesses, 44 retired and three on disability.  They are members of the ELCA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and serve in both the United States and Canada.
     ELCA deaconesses use the title "sister."  Originally they were all unmarried but today the community includes married deaconesses.
     Frost reported seven students seeking to become deaconesses, "the largest number in 22 years."
     The assembly decided to establish "outpost mission sites" to deal more effectively with local needs and to work more closely with other Christian communities.
     It also elected three new board members: Sister Laura L. Bernardo, youth minister, West Chester, Pa.; Sister Monica Denk, parish deaconess/interim ministry, Slave Lake, Alberta; Sister Janet A. Stump, parish deaconess, Pine Grove, Pa.
     The offering from the assembly worship services, more than $1,000, was designated for the Senior Flierl Seminary in Papua New Guinea where the community's Sister Ruth Ellen Rebelein is a missionary teacher.
     The assembly welcomed distinguished guest Deaconess Chita Framo, president of the world DIAKONIA organization and a deaconess of the United Methodist Church in the Philippines.
     The Deaconess Community sponsors the Diaconal Year Program in which ELCA members can serve for a year as Diaconal Associates.

*Carolyn Lewis is a contributing editor for The Lutheran, magazine of the
ELCA.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html