Deaconess Cecelia Williams (Philippines)

Ceceilia with the name badges for the Chicago Assembly

Deaconess Cecelia Williams, from the Philippines, is heading to Chicago for the Assembly. She is one of many delegates from the Philippines, which has 4 diaconal associations who are members of DIAKONIA World Federation. 

Rev Mandy Herriman at DIAKONIA Assembly

Rev Mandy Herriman is an Anglican priest in Australia, in the Diocese of Perth. She is President of the Australian Anglican Diaconal Association. She'll be at the Chicago Assembly.

Rev Mandy Herriman

Mandy is also a music teacher - full orchestra, bands, choirs and chamber groups, community music making and instrumental music as well.

The DIAKONIA Executive - look for them in their blue scarves

You'll see the DIAKONIA World Executive at the Chicago Assembly wearing blue scarves.
Come and say hi!

The 2013-17 DIAKONIA World Executive

Meresiana - on her way to Chicago

Wonderful that Meresiana is on her way from Fiji to Chicago. See you there!!

Sr Ulrike and Sr Traude

Here are two hard-working people - Sr Ulrike Kellner who retires from DIAKONIA Executive at the DIAKONIA Assembly, and Sr Traude Leitenberger. Ulrike retires after 16 years on the Executive, serving as DIAKONIA Secretary for 12 years, and a further 4 years as a representative from the DRAE Region. What a treasure! Traude was appointed to the role of DIAKONIA Secretary in 2014, serving with enthusiasm and diligence. So grateful to both Ulrike and Traude.

Sr Ulrike and Sr Traude

There's a hard working team behind the DIAKONIA Assembly preparations - if you see any of them around please do say hi. This list is not inclusive but features just a few who need special mention.

Home Missioner Scott Vickery

The SNL team (Scott, Noreen, Lisa)

Sister Noreen Stevens

Deaconess Lisa Polito

Jan Cherry - music and liturgy and delegates' handbooks

Diane Marten - local logistics and task groups 

Johnna Georgia - DIAKONIA Registrar

Deaconess Dawn Riske, Music Ministry

DOTAC Central Committee at World DIAKONIA Assembly

Do say hi to any of these people you might see around the Assembly - these are members of the DOTAC Central Committee (DIAKONIA of the Americas and the Caribbean)

BACK ROW from left:
The Ven. John Struthers, Archdeacon, Association of Anglican Deacons in Canada
Deaconess Arlete Prochnow, Evangelical Church in Brazil (Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterano no Brasil)
Rev. Sharilynn Upsdell, Diaconal Minister, Diakonia of the United Church of Canada
Rev Ted Dodd, Diaconal Minister, Diakonia of the United Church of Canada
Sister Mary Arie, Deaconess Community of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Home Missioner Scott Vickery, Offices of Deaconesses, Home Missioners and Home Missionaries, The United Methodist Church
Sister Noreen Stevens, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA
Deaconess Lisa Polito, DOTAC President, Lutheran Deaconess Association

FRONT ROW from left:
Rev Judy Whaley, Diaconal Minister, Diaconal Ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Deacons and Diaconal Ministers, Division of Ordained Ministry, The United Methodist Church
Jan Cherry, Diaconal Minister, Diaconal Ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
The Ven. Pamela Nesbit, Archdeacon, Association for Episcopal Deacons, The Episcopal Church
Rev. Ann Blane, Order of Diaconal Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America
Rev. Claudette Campbell, The Wesley Diaconal Community of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas

The DIAKONIA World Executive begins to arrive for their last full meeting

Rev Ann Wren is the first to arrive. Great pic with Deaconess Lisa Polito. Looking forward to catching up with the Executive!!

Ann Wren and Lisa Polito

Countdown to DIAKONIA World Assembly - introducing Church of Scotland attendees

Dorothy Getliffe DCS

Two diaconate ministers from the Church of Scotland will be attending the World DIAKONIA Assembly - Jane Martin DCS and Dorothy Getliffe DCS.

Jane Martin DCS

Jane has previously been a member of the DIAKONIA Executive Committee and a treasure for Deacons in the Church of Scotland. 

Dorothy is currently a diaconal minister at St Enoch's Hogganfield Church in Glasgow.

Say hi and introduce yourself to them if you see them at the DIAKONIA World Assembly. 

Countdown to DIAKONIA World Assembly - introducing New Zealand delegates

In 2009, Shirley-Joy Barrow, a Deacon from the Methodist Church in New Zealand, attended the DIAKONIA World Assembly in Atlanta. In 2013 (Berlin), there were no attendees from New Zealand. It is wonderful that in 2017 in Chicago there will be three people from New Zealand, representing the Anglican and Methodist Churches (the association is known as DANZA). It will be the first time they participate in a DIAKONIA World Assembly, so if you see them at Assembly, please say hi!!
They are (below, from left)
Rev Deacon Maureen Ellis (Anglican Church, Wellington, NZ)
Deacon Megan Alley (Methodist Church, Kaurihohore -Kamo/Whangarei, NZ)
Rev Anne Russell-Brightey (Anglican Church, Christchurch, NZ)

Maureen Ellis, Megan Alley and Anne Russell-Brighty

countdown to DIAKONIA World Assembly - introducing Regional Presidents

The countdown is on to the DIAKONIA World Assembly in Chicago, and so the next few posts will introduce you to some of the delegates who will be there. It's a good way to begin to make connections, even before the Assembly starts, so when you're there you can give a nodding acknowledgment of people you recognise or better still initiate a conversation with them.

Here are the three Regional Presidents:

DOTAC (DIAKONIA of the Americas and Caribbean)
Deaconess Lisa Polito is the DOTAC Regional President. She was consecrated in 1990, and has served as a chaplain with people with developmental disabilities. Since 2001, Lisa has been at the Lutheran Deaconess Association office in Valparaiso University. Lisa concludes her term as DOTAC President at this year's Assembly.

Deaconess Lisa Polito

DRAE (DIAKONIA Region of Africa and Europe)
Marianne Uri Øverland is the Regional President of DRAE. She is a Deacon in the Church of Norway and works as the director of a Church organisation (IKO) promoting Christian education and running a publishing house.

Marianne Uri Øverland

DAP (DIAKONIA of Asia and the Pacific)
Deaconess Emma Cantor has been Regional President, 2009-2017. She is a Deaconess in the United Methodist Church in the Philippines. She concludes her role as President of DAP at this year's DIAKONIA World Assembly.

Deaconess Emma Cantor

Five new Episcopal Deacons ordained

Bishop Smith invited all the deacons in attendance at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to join the newly ordained deacons. Congratulations to the five new Deacons and blessings for your ministry.