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Most of us know that on the roster of the ELCA there are Ordained Ministers, Associates in Ministry, Diaconal Ministers and Deaconesses. But what exactly is a Deaconess?

The mission statement of the Deaconess Community is "Compelled by the love of Christ, and sustained by community, we devote our lives to proclaiming the Gospel through ministries of mercy and servant leadership."

What are these ministries of mercy?  

Terry explains that historically, Lutheran deaconesses began serving in ministries of mercy at the very beginning of our nation's settlement, serving in New York and Philadelphia, first as nurses to the Lutheran immigrants entering from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and all areas of Europe. As the need for nurses increased, the need to educate women increased and led to the ministry of teaching. From the beginning, Lutheran deaconesses lived together in community, in "Mother Houses," which usually doubled as hospitals and schools. Later, the "Mother Houses" served primarily as residences, because hospitals increased in size and patient capacity. The Mother House of the Deaconess Community, ELCA was sold to a private owner a few years ago; now the Deaconess Community has office space in the churchwide offices of ELCA, though many Sisters cherish their memories of the Mother House.  

The ministry of the deaconesses changed and advanced as the country changed and advanced. The diversity of gifts in ministry is as diverse as each woman is gifted by the Holy Spirit. Deaconesses can be social workers, administrators, directors of nursing, college professors, ministers in congregations, those who serve in hospices, chaplaincy to hospitals, chaplains to civil services, pastoral counselors, assistants in disaster relief, and workers with immigration, refugee services, and homeless shelters. 
 

Service and the Word--these rostered leader servants of the church fulfill the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-40 "...to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me."

Connie Pearson, Team Leader

Health Ministries Task Force

My last article about vaccination was not originally intended to be a two part article, however, there was so much that needed to be said that I decided to split the article into two parts. The second topic, just as important as the discussion on meningococcal disease, is pertussis, better known as whooping cough.  

Recently, hundreds of cases of pertussis have been reported in nine states with the state of Washington currently declaring a pertussis epidemic with 1,484 cases. Eighty-two percent of those cases have been in children under the age of 18. Pertussis is a very contagious disease caused by a bacteria. Unlike the common cold, pertussis can cause violent and rapid coughing, over and over, until the air is gone from the lungs and the individual is forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound. Infants may have little or no cough yet exhibit long pauses in breathing.

The first effective vaccine for pertussis was developed in 1940. While protection from the vaccine is very effective, it is not 100 percent. Pre-teens, teens and adults who were vaccinated as children need to receive a booster because the effectiveness of the vaccine decreases over time.

Children get their first three doses of pertussis vaccine at two, four and six months. Because newborns and infants under two months of age are not immunized, they are particularly at risk if their caregivers are unimmunized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently began recommending that pregnant women be immunized against pertussis for two reasons: (1) to protect the mother; and (2) to provide protective antibodies for the unborn child.  CDC also recommends that all adults, especially those who provide care for small infants, also receive the pertussis vaccine. Adults need one pertussis booster after the age of 18 but to date only about 8 percent of the American adult population are immunized.  

Pertussis can cause serious and sometime fatal illnesses in infants, children and adults. Pertussis is most severe for babies; more than half of infants younger than 1 year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized. About 1 in 5 infants with pertussis get pneumonia and about 1 in 100 will have convulsions. In rare cases (1 in 100), pertussis can be deadly, especially in infants.

So again I ask as I did in my last article, "Why is it important that we talk about vaccination?" Something as simple as a trip to a health care provider can save a life!  Insure your family's health by talking with your health care provider and insisting that you and your loved ones are up to date on all recommended vaccinations!

References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Around the Synod 

Grace Lutheran Church, Long Beach, MS held a fiesta dinner on Saturday, June 28th and raised over $1000 to send to Diaconal Minister Sandra Braasch for her work with the Iglesia Luterana de Guatemala.  The fellowship hall was decorated with a fiesta theme, lively mariachi music was played, and great food was shared, including fried ice cream for dessert.  Pictures of each guest wearing sombreros and sarapes were taken and could be purchased for a few pesos to add to the gift.

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Despite having a tree fall on his rental home recently, the Rev. James L. (Chip) Lingle

was installed as Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Garden City, GA on Thursday evening, June 28.  Pastor Wayne Cobb was the preacher and Pastor Darrel Peterson, Assistant to the Bishop, presided.  Chip's wife, Angela, played the flute during the service and many of Chip's rostered colleagues were present. 

By the way, Chip let Pastor Peterson know that he and Angela are fine and most of their belongings are ok.  They are moving into a congregation owned house near the church.

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Photo of the week:

A rainy June 10 didn't stop the fun at a fundraiser for local ministries in the west Georgia area.   Grace Lutheran Church in Carrollton, Holy Cross in Hiram and Good Shepherd in Douglasville teamed up for a great day of food and fellowship to benefit four ministries; the Carroll County Soup Kitchen, Paulding County Helping Hands, Good Shepherd's Daily Bread ministry, and the Mwangaza Children's Home.   

In addition to games, food and a silent auction featuriing beautiful handmade items, entertainment was provided by the Reptile Wrangler, Ken Panse.  The West Metro Atlanta Thrivent branch supplemented the fundraiser/picnic.

Pastor Michelle Kuhlman, who is deathly afraid of snakes, offered to touch a snake if $100 was raised, hold the snake for $200 and kiss the snake for $300.  To her surprise and chagrin, she ended up raising over $500 with her offer.

Be careful what you promise, Pastor Michelle!

July 4

Independence Day

Synod Office closed

July 8

Installation of the Rev. Dr. Susan Montgomery

Christus Victor, Ocean Springs, MS

Installation of the Rev. Kim Stover

All Saints, Lilburn, GA 

July 14

Ordination of Laura Stancher

St. John's, Knoxville, TN

July 18-22

ELCA Youth Gathering

New Orleans, LA

July 28

Ordination and Installation of Beverly Shaw

St. John's, Atlanta, GA

July 29

Installation of Tim Poston

Holy Cross, Hiram, GA