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ORDER OF DEACONS
Deacons are clergy leaders who are called by God, authorized by the church and ordained by a bishop to a lifetime ministry of word, service, compassion and justice. Deacons exemplify Christian discipleship, nurture others in their relationship to God, and lead church people to respond to the needs of the needy, neglected, and marginalized of the world.
In the congregation, deacons teach, preach, officiate at funerals and weddings, offer pastoral care, assist the elder in administering Baptism and Holy Communion, lead discipleship development ministries, and help lay people identify and claim their own ministries. Deacons lead the congregation in its servant ministry and equip and support all baptized Christians in their ministry. Through the Order of Deacons, The United Methodist Church affirms this historic, central, and distinct ministry.
Deacons in East Ohio serve on church staff in Christian education, missions, discipleship, and music ministries, as chaplins in hospitals, truck stops, and resident care facilities, college and seminary professors, and leaders at nursing homes. Deacons are working as nurses, leading mission sites and conference committees, advocating for job and community development, counselors, as UMVIM coordinators, facilitators of calls to ministry, on staff in the conference and in the North Central Jurisdiction. God calls us to serve in the world and in a set apart order of clergy collegiality that keeps us accountable and connected to God and each other.
Deacons help to connect the needs of the world to the church and Christ followers. Deacons help to build bridges and on-ramps for people in the world to connect with Christ followers, faith, God, and the Church.
Rev. Kathy Dickriede
Chair, Order of Deacons
(330) 842-1048
The East Ohio Conference Office:
located in North Canton, OH,
near Akron-Canton Airport.
Address:
8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone:
(330) 499-3972
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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