- OUR PURPOSE
Diakonia, the Greek word for service, is a calling of the whole people of God.
As Jesus took a towel and washed the feet of the disciples, God calls each of us to respond with loving service in a world needing God’s healing touch.
Deaconesses and deacons respond with loving service in a world needing God's healing touch.
The mission of the Lutheran Deaconess Association is rooted in diakonia as we prepare and support women for ministries of service in the church and world, and advance the church's diaconal mission.
God calls every Christian to diakonia. In fact, one of the main reasons these servants exist is to assist the church in its diaconal mission. We accomplish this by encouraging and providing resources to you.
Servant work has been the focus of the ministries of deaconesses educated and supported by the Lutheran Deaconess Association since 1919. In its 90 year history, the LDA has consecrated 746 deaconesses who have served throughout the world in jobs such as parish staff, missionaries, social workers, lawyers, nurses, teachers and more!
Today, as it has since 1919, the Lutheran Deaconess Association continues to educate both women and men for ministries of service. Deaconesses and deacons embrace the outcasts and those at the margins. They care for the lost, the least, and the little ones. They wash the feet of people in need.