Community elects directing deaconess

Lutheran, The, Jul 2004

At its ninth assembly, the ELCA Deaconess Community elected Sister E. Anne Keffer to a fouryear term as directing deaconess. She directs the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Meeting May 14-17 in Warrenville, 111., the assembly handled questions related to the community's future, mission and ministry.

The challenge, Keffer said, is to connect with the church and the world in a meaningful way for diaconal ministry. "The 'who we are' is connected to the kinds of calls we will be asked to take within the church," she added.

A mission development committee reported to the assembly on proposals to seek, evaluate and select mission opportunities for the community. The assembly also set aside money to help deaconesses develop their ideas into new ministries.