Mountain Sky Appointment Announcements
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Mountain Sky Appointment Announcements
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Submitted by Tara Barnes
Editor, Response Magazine, United Methodist Women
“Called to Be What for God’s World?” was the theme of the deaconess consecration service May 18 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, part of Assembly 2018. Twenty-four women from 19 conferences were consecrated for a lifetime of lay servant ministry in relationship with The United Methodist Church.
Deaconesses are laywomen who have responded to the call of God to full-time ministries of love, justice and service. Their life-giving work provides support and dignity to those in need and helps individuals and communities reach their full potential.
“Deaconesses and home missioners today, as throughout their history, serve in many areas of need, in places where the church has not been, was not aware it should be or was afraid or unwilling to be,” said Deaconess Megan Hale to open the service. “Their daily task of serving and empowering is a visible symbol of the link between the church and the world.” Hale is the executive for candidacy for United Methodist Women’s Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner.
Individuals consecrated and commissioned to the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner in The United Methodist Church form a covenant community in service as a lay order. After discerning a call to lay ministry, deaconesses and home missioners (laymen) finish a course of study to ensure biblical, theological and sociological grounding in their ministries. They are consecrated and commissioned full-time mission-oriented service as part of the lay diaconate.
“The first time I read a brochure about the deaconess calling, in the early 1990s, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me,” said newly consecrated deaconess and photojournalist Laurel Akin. “Years later I attended a discernment event and learned more about the wide varieties of ways deaconesses and home missioners work in ministries of love, justice and service.”
Deaconesses consecrated on Friday will serve in such various vocations as parish nurses, social services, photojournalism and Christian education in various communities across the country.
“Once I learned more about the deaconess home missioner order, I knew I had found something special,” said Deaconess Sophia Agtarap, Director of Communications for Vanderbilt University in Brentwood, Tennessee. “I see deaconesses and home missioners as this misfit group of committed laypeople who seek to serve God and neighbor through unique and mundane and extraordinary ministries of love, justice and service—and that gives me so much hope for the church and world in this very fractured and polarized time we’re living in.”
Bishops Gregory Palmer of the West Ohio Conference, in which Assembly 2018 took place, and retired Bishop Ann Sherer-Simpson took part in the consecration service.
“I am excited to shine God's light into dark places of the world. It is a humbling opportunity to help ease pain, encourage others, educate communities, and make the world a better place as a deaconess,” said Deaconess Corinna Sisk-Casson. I am blown away that God wants me to do.”