United Lutheran Church in America Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and Training School, Baltimore, Maryland

See also ULCA 61 Administrative History.

When first created, the Sister's Council of the Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and Training School, Baltimore, Maryland, (BMD) comprised all deaconesses and the motherhouse pastor, who presided over the meetings. In its early years it met biweekly, but around 1900 the frequency changed to monthly. The council did not meet during the summer months and usually resumed meeting in either October or November. It would assist in the administration of the motherhouse's internal affairs, which included matters involving personnel, household needs, garb, vacations, education and training of probationers, and recommendations of probationers eligible for consecration. In 1917 there were several changes to the Sister's Council. Its composition was modified to comprise the head sister, training sister, and five other consecrated deaconesses, two of whom were not residents of the motherhouse; deaconesses would elect council members every two years; meetings began to occur quarterly; and all consecrated deaconesses, not just the Sister's Council, would be consulted regarding recommendations for consecration. The motherhouse pastor had the privilege of attendance at meetings of the sister's council, but the head sister presided over meetings and reported on the meetings to the United Lutheran Church in America's (ULCA) Board of Deaconess Work (BDW).