Lauri Jo Upchurch consecrated deaconess in The United Methodist Church

By Audrey Stanton-Smith and Conference Communications
 
Lauri Jo Upchurch was consecrated as a deaconess in The United Methodist Church on Monday, April 29, 2024. Twenty-six laypersons, including three central conference members, were consecrated to a lifetime of service as deaconesses and home missioners during Monday morning’s worship service of the 2020 postponed General Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Deaconesses and home missioners are laypeople who are called by God to be in a lifetime relationship in The United Methodist Church for engagement with a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. Together they form a covenant community that is rooted in Scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope, and global in outreach.

“Deaconesses and home missioners today, as throughout their history, serve in many areas of need, in places where the church has not been, was not aware it should be, or was afraid or unwilling to be,” Deaconess Megan Hale, United Women in Faith executive for the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner, explained during the consecration service. “Wherever they serve and regardless of the task, deaconesses and home missioners find and represent the presence of God in the midst of those with whom they serve. Their daily task of serving and empowering is, for deaconesses and home missioners, a visible symbol of the link between the church and the world.”

Upchurch serves as lay supply pastor of Bethel UMC and Surrency UMC in the South Central District. In addition, she is the President of Backstage Ministries Inc. in Baxley, Ga.  In her ministry, Upchurch serves marginalized women, youth, children, widows, and animals. This includes those in recovery, teen moms, and troubled youth. Backstage Ministries provides life skills and a safe residential transitional home. It also provides short and long-term programs to nurture, develop, and prepare women, children, and youth with employment readiness.

Upchurch is also active in the South Georgia Conference United Women in Faith (UWF) and is a member of the Conference Worship Committee.

Seeing Upchurch consecrated as a Deaconess was a very special moment for Patsy Thomas, South Georgia lay delegate to General Conference, a member of ML Harris UMC in Columbus, and an active member of UWF.

“Lauri Jo has a heart for God's people,” said Thomas. “I've served alongside Lauri Jo since 2009. Today I was filled with joy to see my United Women in Faith sister take this next step in her service to the people of South Georgia.”

Tara Jones, president of the South Georgia Conference UWF, said it was thrilling for her to watch Upchurch being consecrated via live stream.

“We have all been praying for her in this journey,” said Jones. “Laurie Jo has been an active member of United Women in Faith for many years. She served as the Conference Spiritual Growth Coordinator and currently serves as the South Central District president. She certainly epitomizes one serving in ministry of love, justice, and service. We look forward to seeing where God leads her in this new role.”

The Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner is the only currently active recognized office in The United Methodist Church for those called to full-time vocations in servant ministries as laity. Deaconesses and home missioners are approved by United Women in Faith and have a continuing relationship to The United Methodist Church through United Women in Faith.

“As we gather in community, we are called to be bold in faith,” Deaconess Melba McCallum said as she led a call to worship that focused on the office’s ministries of love, justice and service.

Sally Vonner, CEO and general secretary of United Women in Faith presented the candidates to be consecrated on behalf of The United Methodist Church.

They were Stacey Atkins (Mountain Sky), Amy Balfour (North Carolina), Heidi Careaga (Wisconsin), Shirley Durr (Minnesota), Kaitlyn Frantz (North Texas), Connie Glover (Upper New York), Christopher Hamera (Zimbabwe East/Malawi Provisional), Andy Hill (West Ohio), Dono James II (Baltimore-Washington), Leanna Lake (Western Pennsylvania), Lucinda Higgs Lautz (Florida), Esther Lloyd-Stevenson (North Georgia), Kathryn Loomis (Mountain Sky), Anna Migera Chacha (North Katanga), Elizabeth Miller (Indiana), Alicia Mitchell (Indiana), Wanda Molock (Peninsula-Delaware), Colleen Moskov (Peninsula-Delaware), Amy Purdom (Virginia), Marie Severing (Wisconsin), Esina Sibanda (Zimbabwe West), Lori Sluder (Holston), Karen VanMatre Smith (Rio Texas), Barbara Sutton (Northern Illinois), Mirasol Tangunan (New York) and Laurie Jo Upchurch (South Georgia).

Prior to a congregational response, bishops, assisted by United Women in Faith staff and deaconesses, placed pinned vestment scarves on the newly consecrated. Deaconess and home missioner pins are similar to the emblem of the Wesley Deaconess Order of England.

While the Office of Deaconess has been a part of church tradition since 1888, the Office of Home Missioner was established at the 2004 General Conference providing laymen with an opportunity to serve in a lifetime relationship in The United Methodist Church, giving laymen the first opportunity to be in an official lifetime relationship in ministry since 1996 General Conference closed the option of Diaconal Minister.

The provision for the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner in The United Methodist Church is found in paragraph 1913 of the 2016 Book of Discipline.

Together, deaconesses and home missioners form a covenant community rooted in Scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope and global in outreach. Their ministries may be in a church-related vocation or helping profession.

Current ministries include but are not limited to issues related to prison, environment, refugees, immigration, health care, education, homelessness, women and children, youth and families, older adults, peace with justice, working poor, and a wide variety of church and community ministries.

Audrey Stanton-Smith is editor of United Women in Faith’s response magazine.