About Us

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Deaconess Community!

We are an intentional community of womxn* deacons on the roster of Word and Service in the ELCA and diaconal ministers in the ELCIC. We long for and work towards impacting this broken and beautiful world through our radical diaconal leadership, prophetic ministry on the margins, and accountable relationship within our community.

We are dedicated to:

If you would like more information about the Deaconess Community, who we are and what we do and are about, please contact Noreen.Stevens@elca.org

To find out more about us, please scroll down the page or check out the menu or bottom of the page.

*We are an RIC community, meaning, we extend gracious hospitality and radical welcome to all womxn gender identities. To know more about our intentional welcome, read our Statement of Welcome.

Mission, Vision, Principles

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.

Church affiliation

Rostered diaconal service is at the forefront of Christian ministry in a rapidly-evolving world. The Deaconess Community recognizes the exciting, vital opportunities to discern expansively about what it is to be called to Christ’s service. We are a separately...

Statement of Welcome

Our Commitment to Oneness in Christ: The Deaconess Community of the ELCA, compelled by the love of Christ and sustained by community, recognizes and affirms the beauty of the diversity of God’s image reflected in humanity. We seek to be a community that is diverse in...