Across the LCMS, consecrated deaconesses share Christ's love through works of mercy, spiritual care, administration, and teaching. Yet many Lutherans remain largely uninformed about who these professional church workers are and how they serve.

In this One Question Interview, Deaconess Sarah Longmire begins with one big question (What even is a deaconess?), before satisfying the Ladies' curiosity on a number of related subjects: What does a deaconess do? How are deaconesses formed and trained? How are they different from other church workers, especially pastors? What common misconceptions exist about deaconess ministry?

Deaconess Sarah Longmire is president of the Concordia Deaconess Conference, a free association of LCMS-rostered deaconesses and LCMS-certified deaconess candidates who subscribe to and live by the confessional position of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and who hold membership in a congregation or partner church of the same.

Click to learn more about the Concordia Deaconess Conference or LCMS Deaconess Ministry.

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