Lutheran Church in America Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America

See LCA 108 Administrative History.

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Program Files 1962-1963 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641563

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

The retention of a sisters' council in the newly created Lutheran Deaconess House and School (LDHS) was a result of discussions at merger seminars. The consensus at these seminars was that it was advisable to retain the kind of advisory body that existed in LDHS predecessor motherhouses. This council would comprise six sisters, three from each merging motherhouse. It was decided that membership on the council would be limited to those sisters not serving on the staff of the motherhouse or the board. The sisters served staggered terms determined by the number of votes each winner received.

The sisters' council acted as an advisory body that approved candidates for investiture and consecration, leaves of absence, standing committee decisions, withdrawals, and awarding of scholarships. The council also passed recommendations on particular issues pertaining to personnel. They discussed larger policy matters such as deaconess education and the retention of a motherhouse facility, reorganization of the motherhouse, and issues related to a merger of LDHS and the deaconesses from the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. It appears the sisters' council met monthly or at least every other month.

From the description of Minutes 1962-1965 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641567

See LCA 108 Adminsitrative History, LCA 108/2/2/1/1 Background

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Planning Files 1978-1979 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641585

See LCA 108 Administrative History.

From the description of Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Agreements 1965-1970, 1972, 1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641576

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

In January 1977, the Management Committee for the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Division for Professional Leadership commissioned a study of the LCA's diaconate. The need for this study resulted from several factors: a deficit in 1975 of more than

While short-term actions involving staff reduction were taken to address the budget shortfalls, the deaconess community board requested the DPL Management Committee conduct a detailed study that would explore three areas: ascertaining the opinion of the church as to the future of the diaconate; an analysis of contributions the diaconate and its predecessors made to the church; and an actuarial study to verify the projected financial obligations of the church as they related to deaconesses in the cooperative plan.

From the description of Study Records, Final Report 1966-1978; 1977-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641625

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

Initially, the 1966 tri-partite agreement between the Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and School, Inc., the Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses, and the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV) that created the Deaconess Community of the LCA also addressed the creation of a governing body for the new community. It stipulated that the board of directors for the new community would comprise the directing sister for the community, the associate executive secretary for deaconess work of the BCECV, the dean of the deaconess school, each president of the two corporations that held the assets and property of the community, and one additional member from each of those corporations. However, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the community addressed the composition of the board differently. Article IV of the bylaws stated that the board would comprise the presidents of the two corporations that held the assets of the community, the treasurer shared by these two corporations, and six persons elected by the BCECV. Of the six elected by the BCECV, the two corporations could nominate three persons each. The associate secretary for deaconess work for the BCECV and the directing sister had voice but no vote on the board.

The Deaconess Community board had four officers: president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The treasurer of the board served in the same capacity for the two corporations. The other three officers were chosen annually. Meetings for the board of directors were to occur on the third Thursday of January each year and any other times the board saw fit to meet. An executive committee comprised of officers of the board and one additional member chosen by the board president met to decide on matters that needed attention between meetings of the board. The board's first leadership included the Rev. Ronald G. Doll, president, the Rev. L. Crosby Deaton, vice president, and Mrs. Marie R. Gross, secretary.

From the description of Minutes, Reports, and Correspondence 1966-1979 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641591

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses Audit Reports 1963-1985 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641638

See LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/3/3/1 Background

From the description of Standing Committee Minutes, Correspondence, Reports 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641635

See also LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/1/8/1 Background, LCA 108/2/10/1 Background

This prayer calendar is a continuation of those prayer calendars used by deaconesses prior to 1979. While this prayer calendar includes some of the same elements as those used from 1963-1978, these calendars also incorporate additional information. Beginning in 1982 an additional prayer calendar for deaconess candidates appears. The calendar included the petitions to include in daily prayer, prayers for the beginning and ending of the day, and an address list for deaconess candidates. While in the past the cover of the prayer calendar and directory had a phrase or title on its front cover, starting in 1984 it included the title theme on the inside cover. The 1985 prayer calendar and directory also includes the list of deaconess community board members. Deaconess candidates were included in the main directory beginning with the prayer calendar and directory for 1985 and all deaconesses' consecration dates were included in addition to their birthdays. In later years, the directory portion of the book had information that was characteristic of the predecessor communities' yearbooks. There was a list of investitures and consecrations, resignations and deaths. It had a booklet format layout with a separate cover. Most editions had some type of artwork, though in later years, that artwork was a variation on the deaconess cross.

From the description of Prayer Calendar and Directory 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641646

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Subject Files 1962-1966 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641571

See LCA Administrative History, LCA 108/2/2/1/1 Background

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Planning Files 1972-1973 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641581

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Photographs 1968-1969; 1972, 1976 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641613

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Planning and Subject Files 1965-1973; 1967-1968 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641615

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Correspondence, Budgets, Reports 1963-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641606

See also LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/2/10/2 Background

LCA Deaconess News/Newsletter of the Deaconess Community of the LCA is a continuation of the in-house newsletter published before the deaconess community reorganized in 1978. After the reorganization, the community continued to issue the newsletter under the name LCA Deaconess News. Aside from the first newsletter issued in January 1979, which included messages from Sister Marjorie Axelton, coordinator of community life, and Sister Louise Burroughs, administrative assistant, Sister Sophie Damme, the directing deaconess for the newly reorganized deaconess community, wrote the introductory message for each newsletter. In January 1983, responsibility for the newsletter transferred to Sister Frieda Gatzke, the newly elected directing deaconess for the community.

Issues of the monthly newsletter generally included a message from the directing deaconess, summaries from board or committee meetings, general news about the community or specific deaconesses, revisions to the prayer calendar, position openings, brief articles written by deaconesses on various subjects: life at the deaconess center, conferences or meetings attended, or work in a parish. The LCA Deaconess News also was a way to disseminate questionnaires, registration forms for events, news or information from the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) or it Division for Professional Leadership (DPL), or publicize upcoming events. Later issues would occasionally include the current issue of The Deaconess and other booklets. The format of the newsletter remained the same for several years. In March 1980, the banner at the top of the newsletter was a different typeface and the paper color of the cover page switched to blue. With the January 1984 issue, the newsletter title changed to Newsletter of the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America and the layout and typeface changed slightly.

From the description of LCA Deaconess News/Newsletter of the Deaconess Community of the LCA 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641645

See LCA 108 Adminsitrative History, LCA 108/2/4/1 Background

From the description of Correspondence, Reports, Program Files 1965-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641595

See LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/2/2/1/1 Background

From the description of Photographs 1968, 1971, 1973, 1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641587

See also LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/1/8/1 Background

Deaconess News Letter/LCA Deaconess News was a continuation of the in-house publication Deaconess Letter. In January 1972, Deaconess Letter became Deaconess News Letter and the numbering of issues started again with number one for the January issue. The content of the circular letter essentially stayed the same. Sisters in community leadership or Sister Louise Burroughs, associate executive secretary for deaconess service, authored more of these letters. Letters were published monthly and included a greeting, reports submitted to the community by its leadership, and other information for dissemination among the deaconess community. This information could be about upcoming events and meetings, deaconess council matters, personnel news, and news of the church-at-large. Issues stop including a number with the March 1975 issue. After that, the issue was just dated with month and year. In April 1976, the title of the newsletter changed to LCA Deaconess News. Sister Joan Henke, executive secretary for deaconess service authored the newsletter until 1977 when Sister Marjorie Axelton, coordinator for community life assumed responsibility.

From the description of Deaconess News Letter/LCA Deaconess News 1966-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641623

See also LCA 108 Adminsitrative History

After the study on the diaconate that took place in 1977 occurred and recommended changes were put into place, the office of directing deaconess was created. The deaconess community's highest authority, the deaconess assembly, elected the directing deaconess to a renewable term of four years. The position was filled from a slate of nominees provided by a search committee of deaconess community members appointed by the community's board of directors. Only consecrated deaconesses in good standing could vote for the directing deaconess.

The directing deaconess served as the community's chief administrative officer, the executive in charge, and the principal liaison between the community and the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Division for Professional Leadership. She provided guidance, advice, and counsel to the board of directors and its committees. She could attend and speak at meeting of the community's board of directors and its standing committees, but she did not have a vote on those bodies. Her principal duties included preparing the community's annual budget and supplying candidates from which the board of directors could select program staff. Her duties also included the nurturing and enhancement of the fellowship, spiritual life, and support network for members of the community. Sister Sophie Damme served directing deaconess from 1979-1982 and Sister Frieda Gatzke succeeded Sister Sophie and served from 1982-1987.

Sister Sophie Damme also served on the Consulting Committee on Worship, a group appointed to work on drafts for an occasional services book which would accompany the recently-published Lutheran Book of Worship. Writing an occasional services book was the project given to the Task Force on Occasional Services, an inter-Lutheran group established in 1979. The LCA was represented through the Division of Parish Services (DPS). The DPS appointed the Consulting Committee on Worship to work on drafts for the occasional services book. Sister Sophie and the Deaconess Community as a whole were involved in giving input to the process.

From the description of Correspondence and Photographs 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641637

See LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/2/2/1/1 Background

From the description of Minutes Reports, Planning Files 1974-1975 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641582

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Community Life, Education and Training Photographs 1962-1965 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641575

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

According to the agreement reached between merging motherhouses, the Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses and the Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and School, Baltimore, Maryland, oversight for the newly created Lutheran Deaconess House and School rested with a joint administrative committee. This committee comprised the associate secretary for deaconess work of the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV), the directing sister for the community, the president of each corporation, and two representatives from the board of directors for each corporation. The agreement stipulated that the responsibilities of the administrative committee would include those same responsibilities previously held by the governing board of each motherhouse. The BCECV envisioned that the administrative committee would carry out deaconess work as its predecessor boards had done before, but without arrogating powers held by the BCECV as defined in its constitution and bylaws. It appears that for the three years the committee was in existence, it met two times per year, but sometimes three. Members of the Administrative Committee included: Mr. H. Ober Hess, chairman, Mrs. Christian Gross, Mr. David Jones, Mr. John Repass, Judge Frank Neutze, Mr. Stephen McLoughlin, Jr., the Rev. C. Donald Heft, secretary, Sister Anna Ebert, Sister Anna Melville, Sister Bernice Pantel.

From the description of Minutes and Reports 1963-1966 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641565

See LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/2/3/1/1 Background

From the description of Baltimore Lutheran Deaconess House and School Inc. Audit Reports 1963-1979 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641602

See LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/2/2/1/1 Background

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Planning Files 1977-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641583

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Community Life Photographs 1966-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70788078

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Bylaws, Articles of Merger, Agreement 1978-1980; 1982, 1986 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641629

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

The Deaconess Assembly was the highest authority of the restructured Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America. It comprised deaconesses in good standing as defined by the standards for office of deaconess. Among its responsibilities, the deaconess assembly elected members to the community's board of directors. It reviewed the work of the diaconate and considered its future work in terms of planning and programming. These review meetings took place biennially, but the assembly could be called into session at any time determined by the community's board of directors. At the assembly the directing deaconess chaired the sessions. A secretary and vice-chairperson for sessions were elected at the assembly.

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Planning Files 1980-1986 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641631

See LCA 108/4 Administrative History

From the description of Program Files 1957-1989; 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641649

See also LCA 108, ULCA 60, ULCA 61 and AUG 42 Administrative Histories

For more than a century, the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) and its predecessor bodies, the Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses (PMD); the Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse, Baltimore (BMD); and the Immanuel Deaconess Institute, Omaha (IDI), provided deaconesses for many hospitals, social service agencies, and churches. These were called "places of service" or "stations of service." Some of these were closely allied with a particular motherhouse from the very early days, such as Lankenau Hospital and Kensington Dispensary with the PMD. Others were places where only one deaconess worked for a few years.

Some of the places of service changed their names and perhaps their purposes over the years. The following variations on names can be found in these records: Artman Lutheran Home is now part of Liberty Lutheran Services; Augustana Mission Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota, included an Old People's Home, later called the Augustana Lutheran Home; a Home for Young Women; and a Children's Home for Orphans; Board of Social Ministry of the Eastern Pennsylvania Synod was also called the Board of Inner Missions; Helton Health Center in Konnerock, Virginia, was known also as Whitetop or Konnerock; Ken-Crest was begun as Kensington Dispensary, of which River Crest was an affiliate; Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was originally named German Hospital; Lutheran Home at Topton is now part of Diakon; Lutheran Home for the Aged, Pittsburgh, was also called the Lutheran Old Folks Home; Lutheran Social Services of Metro New York was also called Lutheran Community Services; the Tiding Over Home was one of its agencies; Lutheran Inner Mission League of the Miami Valley, Ohio; Bethany Lutheran Village is one of its agencies; Mercer Memorial House, Atlantic City, New Jersey, was originally called the Seaside Home for Invalid Women; Silver Springs - Martin Luther School, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, began as part of the Lutheran Home at Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - the two are listed separately here. The Lutheran Home at Germantown was closed and its assets became the Lutheran Home at Germantown Foundation.

From the description of Places of Service Records 1880-2002 1930-1979 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 229457320

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

The Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) met in conference at a place and date previously established by its sisters'/deaconess council. The purpose of this meeting, alternately referred to as a conference or convention, was to consult and advise community leadership in regards to the goals and objectives of the community. The first handbook for the community, issued in 1966, defines the purpose of the triennial meeting as the "encouragement to the fuller employment of all resources of the spirit and means for furthering of the diaconate of the Church." Actions taken by deaconesses at the conference included recommending candidates for consecration and electing of members of sister's/deaconess council. They also forwarded a nomination for directing sister to the LCA's Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV) for its approval, though this responsibility was eliminated with the church reorganization in 1972. They offered suggestions to deaconess community board on matters concerning the ministry of the diaconate. Consecrated deaconesses had voice and vote, but invested deaconesses had voice only.

The first two versions of the handbook stated that the directing sister presided over the conference, but handbooks issued in 1972 and 1974 handbooks only specify that the sisters at the conference would elect a "chairman". This person presided over the conference and had other duties as well. These included advising the deaconess council in the planning of the conference; representing the deaconess community on the deaconess community board and attending board meetings; and assisting the community's executive secretary in relating the work of the community to the board and actions of the board to the community. She attended meetings of the deaconess council and related actions of the deaconess board to the council. She also relayed requests and information from the community to the council. She received and responded to in a prompt manner, suggestions from the community that encouraged the well-being of the community.

As to how often the community held these conferences, the first two versions of the deaconess handbook indicate that it would meet every year. The last two revisions of handbook issued in 1972 and then again in 1974 state that the conference could meet biennially or triennially. The conference could attend to any matter that needed its attention between its meeting times through a vote by mail.

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Planning Files 1966-1968 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641578

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Photographs 1978-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641648

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

The restructured Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) had as the entity that oversaw the administration of the community, between meetings of the Deaconess Assembly, a board of directors. The board of directors comprised eleven persons, six of whom were deaconess elected by the assembly, and five other members chosen by the LCA's Division for Professional Leadership's (DPL) management committee. Of the five persons chosen by the DPL, two were to be members of the management committee and the remaining three members of the LCA. Generally, terms for members of the board were four years. A director could only serve two consecutive terms. The board of directors was accountable to two entities: the Deaconess Assembly for matters concerning the management of community affairs, and the DPL for oversight of policies regarding the community. Specific duties of the board included power to authorize contracts, adopt annual budgets, establish fiscal policies for the community, and administer the Deaconess Center in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, as well as other properties owned by the community, responsibility for deaconesses in cooperative plan. It hired executive and program staff, established staff structure, oversaw planning for deaconess assemblies, and evaluated programs of the deaconess community that pertained to education, recruitment, and interpretation.

Officers for the board included chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, and treasurer. These offices were elected each year at the first board meeting. If the treasurer were chosen from outside the membership of the board, which was allowable, he or she would have voice but no vote at board meetings and meetings of the board's executive committee. The board had standing committees that included an executive committee, committee on finance and property, committee on community life, committee on education and candidacy, and committee on promotion and interpretation. It had the power to establish any other committees when warranted. The board of directors met twice per year and any other time necessary, as determined by the chairperson or the executive committee.

From the description of Minutes, Meeting Summaries, Correspondence 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641633

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Financial Records 1973-1987; 1979-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641639

See ULCA 60, ULCA 61, LCA 108 Administrative Histories.

From the description of Special Student Personnel Files 1924-1965 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 71054777

See also LCA Adminsitrative History

Deaconess Letter was a circular letter sent by the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV) by its executive secretary and from time to time, the secretary of deaconess work. Generally, the letter began with a brief inspirational message and then detailed news about upcoming events, personnel, news related to the merger, general news from the BCECV, and deaconess news. BCECV wrote a letter at least six times per year, but not at regular intervals.

The Prayer Calendar and Calendar of Important Events-Birthdays and Memory Texts was a continuation of a publication began in the late 19th century by the Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses. This resource listed a "prayer schedule" for special petitions for the deaconesses and deaconess students of the Lutheran Deaconess House and School (LDHS), as well as memory texts and psalms for the year, and important dates in the history of the LDHS community and its predecessors, as well as the diaconate in general.

From the description of Deaconess Letter, The Prayer Calendar and Calendar of Important Events-Birthdays and Memory Texts 1962-1965 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641573

See LCA 108 Administrative History, LCA 108/2/11/1/1 Background

From the description of Reports and Actions, Planning Files 1977-1979 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641627

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Background Materials 1951-1962; 1961-1962 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641561

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Deaconess Community of the LCA Audit Reports 1968-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641604

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

When the merger of the Philadelphia and Baltimore motherhouses occurred in 1962, deaconesses in attendance at the organizing convention for the Lutheran Deaconess House and School (LDHS), in December 1962, elected a new directing sister, Sister Anna Melville, to a six-year term with 89 of 123 votes cast.

Duties of the directing sister fell under five "spheres of responsibility": administrator, spiritual advisor, placement agent for the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV), member of the deaconess school faculty, and collaborator in responsibility for promotion of the diaconate. Specific duties included the responsibility for the operation, maintenance, and care of the motherhouse facility and other properties owned by the community. She informed the sisterhood of actions by the BCECV that would affect the sisters. She reported on motherhouse activities at meetings of the deaconess work committee of the BCECV. She prepared the annual budget for the motherhouse and school, coordinated and managed the work of the motherhouse staff, and enforced the personnel polices of the motherhouse. She visited and/or corresponded with deaconesses in active service and with retired deaconesses not living at the motherhouse, and she guided and cared for the spiritual life of the motherhouse family.

Responsibilities related to the training school included attending all faculty meeting of the training school, when necessary serving as an instructor at the training school, and consulting with the training school dean and deaconess secretary of BCECV on matters related to the training school curriculum. Her duties also included placement and recall of deaconesses and advising the deaconess secretary about communications with deaconess regarding their placements. The directing sister also was required to put forth the cause of the diaconate and the motherhouse before organizations and congregations, and stay informed of any developments related to the church, at home or overseas, as they might affect the diaconate.

From the description of Circular Letters 1963-1965 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641569

See LCA 108 Administrative History

From the description of Subject Files 1937; 1957-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641617

See LCA 108 Adminsitrative History, LCA 108/2/7/1 Background

From the description of Consecration, Investiture, Seminars, Student Life Photographs 1966-1977 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641611

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

In 1966 when the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) was created, it continued to have a sisters' council as a component of community leadership. This council comprised eight sisters elected during the deaconess conference for terms of six years. This was an increase in the size of the council by two members compared to the sisters' council for the Lutheran Deaconess House and School (LDHS). Duties assigned to the council differed slightly from the duties of the pre-1966 sisters' council. This council acted or recommended to the board action on approving the transfer of a deaconess from the cooperative plan to the salary plan. It approved leaves of absence for study, consideration of change of vocation, or family responsibility. It granted requests for scholarship from the 50th Anniversary Fund and it acted on any other matters on which action was requested by the deaconess community.

By 1967 the size of the board increased to nine members. These nine members would be elected by the deaconess community, through either a deaconess conference, or the deaconess community board. The terms were shortened to three years and the council elected a chairman and a secretary. The directing sister for the community and the executive secretary for deaconess work of the LCA's Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV) and later the Division for Professional Leadership were ex officio members of the council. The council met quarterly and at any other times determined by either the directing sister or the chairperson of the council. Duties of the council focused on fostering fellowship and service among the community, collecting ideas regarding diaconate service and disseminating them throughout the community. It also was empowered to act between meetings of the deaconess conference to consider matters that needed recommendation to the deaconess community board and to initiate studies on matters that would affect the diaconate or questions about its function and structure. Beginning in 1972 the name of the council changed from Sisters' Council to Deaconess Council. By 1974 the Deaconess Council added vice-chairman to its officers.

From the description of Minutes 1966-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641593

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

When the merger occurred in 1962 that brought together the two separate deaconess communities of the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) predecessor, the United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA), it was necessary to create a corporate entity that would be responsible for the Baltimore predecessor community's real property, endowments, and other assets. Prior to the merger, the ULCA's Board of Deaconess Work (BDW) held endowments and real estate for the Baltimore Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and School. A special committee convened to study what to do with the assets held by the BDW since after the merger it would no longer exist and it had no direct successor. The Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses, a corporation already in existence, held assets associated with the other merging motherhouse, located in Philadelphia. Funds held by these corporations would be used to satisfy financial obligations incurred by the deaconess community.

The Baltimore Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and School, Inc. was created by a decree of incorporation on March 13, 1962. On May 31, 1962, all property, trust funds, and endowments were transferred to the new corporation. When first created, the corporation's duties included maintaining the training school at 6901 N. Charles St., Towson, Maryland, in addition to its duties to manage the funds and other property of the corporation. It had a board of directors comprised of fifteen persons, each a member of the ULCA, or its successor. One half of board had to comprise lay persons not employed by the church or any of its affiliated institutions and at least five of the members had to be members of the Board of Deaconess Work of the ULCA or that board's successor. The directing sister for the Baltimore Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and School was an ex officio member who had voice and vote. The board of directors was empowered to acquire "property of any and every kind" and to manage these and other assets held by the corporation in a manner that served the purposes of the corporation.

The articles of incorporation included bylaws that addressed specific details such as the time and place of the annual meeting and special meetings, the powers of the board of directors, how the board was elected, duties of the officers of the board, duties of standing committees, and the board's fiscal year. Both the articles of incorporation and its bylaws were amended in 1973. The articles of incorporation were amended to reflect the merger that created the ULCA's successor the LCA and the fact that there was no direct successor to the ULCA's BDW. The amended articles eliminated the requirement that five of the members had to be members of the BDW and that the directing sister for the Baltimore motherhouse would be an ex officio member. Article II of the bylaws, which pertains to the powers and election of the board of directors, was amended to reduce the number of the board of directors to five and indicate how and when those five were to be elected and how long they would serve.

On January 11, 1979, the board of directors for the corporation met to approve the articles of merger that would merge the Baltimore corporation into the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America. This merger occurred to alleviate the difficulties involved with what was a series of complex legal relationships between the deaconess community and various entities. Assets of the corporation were transferred to the community.

From the description of Minutes, Amended Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws 1962-1979 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641589

See also ULCA 22 Administrative History, ULCA 60 Administrative History, ULCA 61 Administrative History, AUG 42 Adminsitrative History, LCA 108 Administrative History.

After World War II, many deaconess motherhouses in Europe were in ruins. In 1945, a federation of deaconess houses in the Netherlands began a movement for common support by contacting deaconess houses in Switzerland, France, Scandinavia, and North America. Reaction to the Dutch initiative was positive, but there was dissention when the Swiss, who had been neutral in the war, suggested that houses in Germany, where the deaconess movement began, be included. This was vehemently opposed by Dutch and Scandinavian motherhouses because of their sufferings under the Nazi regime. As a result of the war and its effects, all contact with the German motherhouses had been broken. The Rev. Fritz Hoch, director of the Deaconess House Riehen and leader of the Swiss movement, pointed out that Christ wanted his church to be one. Due to his efforts, German motherhouses were eventually included, though not for several years.

A pre-conference held at Utrecht, the Netherlands, in September, 1946, was attended by delegates from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France, Scotland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland. These countries, except for Austria, whose representatives could not get visas, and Hungary provided the delegates at the founding Conference of Diakonia in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October, 1947. The organization was originally focused on deaconesses, hence its name: Diakonia, the World Federation of Deaconesses, but as the diaconal concept grew and changed, some member associations included both men and women. A new constitution in 1979 affirmed this reality, stating membership was open to diaconal associations and sisterhoods, "called by the Lord of the Church to the service of reconciliation in the world with the word of faith and the action of love," the name was officially changed to Diakonia, the World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Sisterhoods. In later years, its name changed to Diakonia, The World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Diaconal Communities.

Diakonia aims are to further ecumenical relations, to reflect on the nature and task of Diakonia in the New Testament sense, to strengthen mutual ties and render mutual aid, and to undertake common tasks. Conferences were held every two years from 1947 to 1951, then every three years until 1972, and every four or five years thereafter. The membership of Diakonia consists of diaconal associations and communities, rather than individuals. Each association or community provides representatives to the Assembly of Delegates. Originally, each such body was entitled to two representatives per 1000 members, with one more added for every 500 additional members or parts thereof. In the 1966 revision of the constitution, this was changed to one delegate for every 250 members, plus one more for every 250 additional members or parts thereof. The total number of delegates for any member body has always been five. The delegate assembly appoints an executive committee which conducts the organization's business. Originally, it was composed of at least five members, one of whom had to be a deaconess. Most of the members were males, usually pastors. In the 1979 revision of the constitution, the number of members was noted as at least ten. The Diakonia executive committee had a president elected by the Assembly of Delegates, two or more vice-presidents elected by the committee itself from among its members, and a secretary appointed by the committee. The treasurer was nominated by the Netherlands and confirmed by the executive committee. Diakonia was incorporated in the Netherlands as a foundation.

The Lutheran deaconesses in North America were active from the start of Diakonia. In May, 1947, Sister Anna Ebert, directing sister of the Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses, received a letter from Dr. M. L. van Holthe, temporary secretary of the "International Federation of Associations of Deaconesses-in process of formation," informing her about the Utrecht pre-conference in 1946 and the coming conference in Copenhagen later in 1947. He asked if the American deaconesses were interested in joining. She replied that she was very interested, and had written to the other Lutheran deaconess houses in the U. S. to tell them of the plan. She added that she hoped that Lutheran deaconess homes in America could send a representative to Copenhagen.

For the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America and its predecessors, attendance and involvement at these conferences began with the first conference held in Copenhagen. Sisters Margaret Fry of the Philadelphia motherhouse and Sister Edna Hill of the Lutheran Deaconess Motherhouse and Training School, Baltimore, Maryland, representing the Board of Deaconess Work of the United Lutheran Church in America, attended the conference as guests. At the next conference at Zurich, Switzerland, in 1949, the Philadelphia and Baltimore motherhouses were admitted as members. Sister Martha Hansen, directing sister of the Baltimore motherhouse was the delegate at the conference held in 1951, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands,. Sister Anna Ebert was the delegate to the 1954 conference held in Oslo, Norway,. In 1963, Sister Marion Anderson, directing sister of the Immanuel Deaconesses Motherhouse and Training School, Omaha, Nebraska, served as the delegate to the conference in Berlin, Germany. At the 1963 conference, the size of the executive committee of Diakonia increased to include three additional members, two representatives from Germany and one from North America. At this time, Sister Anna Ebert was elected as the first North American member of the executive committee. At the next conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1966, she was elected as one of the two vice-presidents of Diakonia. In 1967, she became acting president upon the resignation of the president, Rev. Bengt-Thure Molander, and in 1969, at Tampere, Finland, she was the first woman to be elected as president of Diakonia. Thus she was president during the conference in New York City in 1972, the first conference to be held outside Europe. In 1983 at Coventry, England, Sister Sophie Damme was elected as a vice-president of Diakonia. It is difficult to determine delegates in other years from the information available, but there have always been participants from the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America and its predecessor communities.

From the description of Records 1946-1987; 1966-1987 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 72695212

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

Up until 1966, deaconesses received their education and training through the deaconess community at its training school in Baltimore, Maryland. This school, the Lutheran School for Church Workers, offered a five-year program that combined three years at an accredited college and two years at the Baltimore campus. However, in 1964, because of declining enrollment, the administrative committee of the Lutheran Deaconess House and School (LDHS) began to reevaluate the school's continued existence. The committee believed the school would face increased competition from institutions that could offer what it could not, graduate credit. It also believed that in an increasingly complex world, the community needed to develop an educational program and affiliate it with a theological seminary. Although talks on this subject occurred in the past between the Board of Deaconess Work of the United Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and plans were created, those plans were tabled indefinitely while the seminary and Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, with whom it was involved in preliminary merger talks, decided on a location for the seminary. This particular merger never materialized. At this time, both the seminary in Philadelphia and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago indicated interest in some type of partnership between their schools and the deaconess program. In February 1965, the LDHS administrative committee voted to move the school to the motherhouse location in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania and open the school to others who desired to live in community and prepare for a vocation with the church. It also decided to enter into discussions with the seminary in Philadelphia about establishing a program in which students could enroll the following fall.

In September 1965, a deaconess educational graduate program began at The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. Those students interested in a profession involving education, welfare, or health would enroll in a one-year program of core courses at the seminary. They would take additional courses needed for their particular professions at a professional school or other local university. In the fall of 1966, a two-year program for those desiring to become directors of Christian education began. Students in this program would receive, upon successful completion of the program, a Master of Arts in religion. Students in both of these programs were required to complete a summer of fieldwork and at the completion of the academic program, a one-year internship before they could be considered for consecration. As a part of the program, deaconess students would live in residence at the motherhouse in Gladwyne for at least one year. Approved prospective deaconess students were recommended to the seminary by the Coordinating Council, in addition to completing an application with the seminary and providing the necessary educational transcripts.

For a deaconess student, once her undergraduate education was complete, and she received the endorsement of her synod's Committee on Church Vocations, she enrolled in the deaconess education program. If a woman who already completed her professional training desired to become a deaconess, she applied directly to the deaconess community offices in the New York offices of the Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV) of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). If the deaconess student successfully completed her first year in the program, she was invested in the community through an investiture service. At this time, she began being referred to as "sister" and began wearing the garb. An invested deaconess received

The final phase in a deaconess's education was that of consecration or "setting apart." To be consecrated, a deaconess had to receive the community's recommendation to the Deaconess Community Board and a final approval of the BCECV. Prior to this recommendation, the directing sister confirmed that the deaconess met certain requirements that included completion of academic requirements, acceptance of a call, adherence to confessions of the LCA, and fulfillment within her called work of her role as deaconess according to the principles of the diaconate. At the time of the consecration, the deaconess received her cross.

By 1972, deaconess education had evolved to comprises three tracks, depending on the type of work into which the deaconess student wished to enter and the level of education she either had attained or desired to attain. If the deaconess wished to serve in a field related to secretarial work, child care, nursing, or as an educational aide, she needed to attain a two-year associates degree, twenty-four college credits in religion, and one-year residency at the deaconess center in Gladwyne, Penn. If a deaconess wished to serve as a teacher, parish worker, or parish educator, she had to complete a bachelor's degree and one year of religious studies, either to be completed during three summers in residence at the deaconess center, or by enrolling for one year at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia to complete the one-year studies. For those who desired to serve as deaconesses working as counselors, nursing educators, hospital administrators, or social workers, a bachelors and masters degree were required, along with the one year of theological education at the seminary in Philadelphia. During this year, the student would live at the deaconess center thereby satisfying the one-year residency requirement.

Beginning in 1973, those students who could not complete the required religious studies courses at the college in which they were enrolled could take those courses at the deaconess center under the supervision of Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania. In September 1976, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago began offering a program similar to that offered by the seminary in Philadelphia.

From the description of Program Files 1965-1980; 1965-1978 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641608

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

After the creation of the Deaconess Community of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1966, the community itself was given the responsibility of sending to the LCA's Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV) its nomination for directing sister. The BCECV bylaws stipulated that each center could have its own directing sister or the same directing sister could administer more than one center. However, the LCA deaconess community only had one directing sister during its existence, this partly owing to the fact that early on in its life, all activities were administered out of one deaconess center, the former Philadelphia motherhouse in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. As with the Lutheran Deaconess House and School, the directing sister of the new LCA deaconess community would be nominated by the sisters of the community and elected by the BCECV for a term of six years.

In addition to being the administrative leader in charge of the deaconess center, the directing sister prepared the community's annual budget, she promoted the spiritual and professional growth for the sister, she arranged for the care of retired sisters, and she, in consultation with the BCECV's executive secretary assigned to deaconess work, would place sisters in assignments. The directing sister also prepared reports on the community to deliver at community board meetings, as well as at meetings of the Philadelphia and Baltimore corporations. She also called meetings of the sister's council as well as the deaconess conference. Sister Anna Melville continued her service as directing sister until 1971. In 1972, there was a revision to staff structure and the position of directing sister was eliminated. Instead, an administrator for the deaconess center worked with other center staff members that included a public relations assistant, business manager, and director for counseling, education, and placement.

From the description of Correspondence and Circular Letters 1963-1971; 1966-1971 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641597

See also LCA 108 Administrative History

The Executive Secretary for Deaconess Service reported to the Executive Secretary of the Lutheran Church in America's (LCA) Board of College Education and Church Vocation (BCECV). Known by several titles, this position was first the Secretary for Deaconess Service, then the Associate Executive Secretary, followed by Associate Executive Secretary for Deaconess Service, and finally Executive Secretary for Deaconess Service. This deaconess was the administrative head of the community and was responsible for the overall program while the directing sister carried out specific duties to achieve the program's goals. The executive secretary was responsible for developing strategies to achieve the goals outlined by the board for maintaining and fostering deaconess service. While she did not have direct responsibility for specific programs, she was responsible for seeing the successful fulfillment of their objectives. These programs included recruitment of deaconess candidates, supervision of the training of deaconess students, approval of candidates for consecration or "setting apart," promotion of continuing education among deaconesses, supervision of persons participating in Associate if Diaconal Service program, and promotion and interpretation of deaconess service. After the LCA restructured in 1972, this position reported to the Division for Professional Leadership and was renamed Associate Director of Diaconal Ministry. In 1976 after the deaconess who held the position resigned, the vacancy was never filled. Eventually the position was eliminated.

From the description of Correspondence and Reports 1963-1976 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641599

See LCA Adminsitrative History, LCA 108/2/2/1/1 Background

From the description of Minutes, Reports, Planning Files n.d.; 1971 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 70641579