Go & Tell the Story

By Nichole Lyons, Diaconal Intern at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Omaha    For 13 years I have been discerning a call to rostered ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). And for about 11 of those years, I was consistently told I should be a pastor, even thought I knew in my heart that my passion and calling was in youth and family ministry.    One semester into my journey at Wartburg Theological Seminary, I met a deacon candidate, Kelli Lisi Davis, who broadened my scope of what it means to be a rostered leader in the ELCA. Kelli passionately spoke of the Word and service roster, telling of the many gifts the roster brings to the church. The gifts range from youth and family ministry, to food ministry, education, nursing, advocacy, music ministry, and so much more. When I heard her describe the roster, I knew in my heart that my true calling was to the Word and service roster.    As you can see above, being ...

By Deacon Sunni Richardson, Director of Discipleship First Lutheran Church- Lincoln I have had the privilege of working in a variety of settings and learning from some of the best leaders in the field. I watched these mentors and colleagues shine and watched them struggle. Along the way I came to realize the struggles were almost always tied to the expectation, or perceived expectation, that the top dog needed to be an expert on every topic, in every situation, and in every setting. Well, that’s just plain silly. So, I ask, how do we change the picture? A few thoughts from my corner of the world … I think we’ve lost sight of one of Luther’s grounding principles -- the priesthood of all believers. If we are called to be the church, then we need to step up and BE CHURCH. That requires us to think outside the box when it comes to leadership.   We have to think about shared leadership which includes pastors, Parish Ministry Associates, laity, and ...

By Deacon Timothy Siburg, Director of Stewardship The church needs more deacons. Let me say that again. The church needs more deacons! I’m not saying this because I want more colleagues, though that might be true. I am saying this though, because deacons are a gift to this church, as ministers of word and service. They are partners alongside pastors in leading the formal parts of ministry, raising the questions within communities and where the church shows up in the world, and helping be the duct tape or the bridge between the world around us and the life of the congregation. It is a holy calling- one where those who are called as deacon, are set apart for the ministry of word and service, a ministry that points to and participates in God’s work in the world. One that bridges the space between pastor and laity. One that is grounded in the baptismal promises, and flows out of a place of lifting and raising up questions about: What might God be up to? Wha...