The LCMS Concordia Deaconess Conference (CDC) announces four new officers and a spiritual counselor:
- Deaconess Sara Lemon, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Ministries,
- Deaconess Kimberly Schave, director of Human Care with the LCMS Ohio District and the Federation of Lutheran Churches of Cincinnati, treasurer.
- Deaconess Heidi Bishop, director of Human Care and Youth Ministries at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Elgin, Ill., member at-large — membership.
- Deaconess Jana Peters, chaplain and program director for Voice of Care, West Chicago, Ill., member at-large for annual conference logistics.
- Rev. William Weedon, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hamel, Ill., spiritual counselor for 2011-14.
Although Weedon’s term is for three years, the deaconesses will serve two-year terms. All were elected during the CDC’s 31st Annual Conference, June 15-18 at Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Neb. Theme of the conference was “Lutheran Spirituality: The Life of Receptivity.”
Speakers included Dr. Joseph Herl, associate professor of music at Concordia University Nebraska, who discussed attitudes and tools for fostering a receptive spirituality, and Weedon, who led studies on the book of Colossians.
In her presentation, Deaconess Dorothy Krans, the Synod’s director of social ministry organizations, outlined the structural changes taking place in the Synod and the placement of LCMS Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) within that structure. She also explained how RSOs offer opportunities for those who want to serve in the area of social ministry.
Conference workshop topics included Operation Barnabas, rest and revitalization for caregivers and the Center for Liturgical Art.
The next CDC conference is scheduled for June 24-27, 2012, at the Pallottine Renewal Center in Florissant, Mo., in the Greater St. Louis area.
For more information about the Concordia Deaconess Conference, visit www.concordiadeaconessconference.org.
Posted Sept. 14, 2011
