At the DMA WOC meeting this year we will be familiarizing ourselves with the by-laws and working toward filling some of the vacancies in leadership during the next year. I would also like for everyone to come prepared to brainstorm ideas for parishes to become involved with ministry in their communities.

I will also be presenting information about the Cranmer House program of study for the Deaconess Order in the REC, a specialized Master of Arts in Religion with a concentration in Deaconess Studies. (Read the brochure - PDF). One of the features of this program is a new course called Biblical Womanhood, which is a much needed corrective to the current trend. Even those who have no calling as Deaconesses would profit from this course, so if you are at all interested, please contact me at dsstrj (at) dmawomen.org. The course outline and assignments are being made available through a secure site online to those who are interested.

I look forward to seeing many of you in October in Houston. In the meantime, don't forget about the new opportunity available in the Order of the Daughters of the Holy Cross (daughtershc.org). If any of the members of the Order are able to attend Synod, we would appreciate hearing a report about the installation service.

In Christ,

Dss Teresa Johnson

President, Women of the Church
Diocese of Mid-America

dsstrj at dmawomen.org