Leslie Hobson Brings Deaconess Service to Minnesota

(2/26/2007)
by Russell Goodwin
Since its affirmation by the Methodist Church in 1888, marking the first opportunity for women to be in ministry in the church, hundreds of women have served as deaconesses in various ministries of the church such as social work, health care administration and more.
Minnesota will soon boast its own deaconess, Leslie Hobson. Hobson, an active member of Park United Methodist Church in Brainerd, serves the church's youth ministry and other outreach projects. She recalls her first memories of the roles of women in the church. "As a child in the '60s, I always wanted to be a preacher's wife, because I believed it was the only way to serve in the ministry as a woman," she says.
Now clergy women serve the United Methodist Church as elders and deacons, and laywomen as deaconesses. Deaconesses have a ministry of love, service, and justice, as stated in The Book of Discipline. Deaconesses are laywomen commissioned through the General Board of Global Ministries for full-time ministries of service and are funded though United Methodist Women. Deaconesses have always been looked upon as the "doers" of the United Methodist Church. The history of the deaconess in the Protestant churches goes back to the 1500s, when deaconesses responded to the needs of the sick and cared for the poor. As they prepare for commissioning as deaconesses and home missioners (a lifetime mission office for laymen that parallels that of deaconess), candidates are encouraged to participate in discernment events to find the right ministry route and share opportunities of the deaconess relationship.
Hobson recalls what inspired her begin the deaconess commissioning process. "I was a candidate for ordination as a clergyperson until I realized that was not what I wanted to be," she says. "I have had opportunities to teach and preach and I once attended a sermon event. But I learned that I wanted to do ministry rather than equip others," says Hobson.
"Deaconesses have the opportunity to build covenant relationships with men and women around the world," Hobson says. "They also have the opportunity to change their vocation into something they like, in the name of Christ." Deaconesses represent the United Methodist Church in several different ways—unlike the past, when many feared even the thought of women serving in ministry because they believed it would eventually lead to women's ordination. "I truly appreciate the opportunity to represent the church, being love and showing love," Hobson says. "It is important that people look at us deaconesses and see how important Christ is in our lives." An average of 11 deaconesses are commissioned each year.
Women interested in the deaconess ministry and men interested in the home missioner ministry can contact Becky Dodson Louter of the General Board of Global Ministries at (212) 870-3850 or deaconess@gbgm-umc.org Click here for more information.