2011 Annual Conference
Next summer’s annual conference will be held in Seward, Nebraska, June 15-18, 2011.  The Executive Committee has set the conference price in line with estimated costs received from Concordia University Nebraska:  room and board at $200 and Registration (program costs) at $50, for a total of $250.  (Spouses accompanying CDC members do not pay $50 registration fee.)

Please mark your calendars and watch this space for registration information!

30^th Anniversary Celebrations
Conference members met at Concordia University Chicago (CUC) on June 23-26, 2010 for a very special annual conference.  With the theme
“Celebrate and Serve,” attendees enjoyed some witty walks down
memory lane in honor of both the 30th anniversary of deaconess
training at CUC and the 30th anniversary of CDC.

Observation of the training program’s 30th anniversary included an early 1980s filmstrip and a collaborative presentation by the three women who have served as directors of the CUC training program – Nancy (Nicol) Nemoyer, 1980-1990; Kristin Wassilak, 1990-2005; and Jennie (Waters) Asher, 2005 to present.  Banquet speaker for this portion of the celebration was Rev. Dr. Gary L. Bertels, Chairman of the CUC Department of Theology.

Highlights on other days of the gathering included a variety of engaging topics.  Rev. Todd Peperkorn presented two sessions titled “Living with Depression” and “Serving those with Depression and Other Mental Illness.” Dr. Andrew Steinmann presented “Proverbs:  Wisdom and the Gospels” and “The Wisdom of Agur.”  Rev. John Berg, CDC Spiritual Conselor, led conference worship services and Bible studies were provided by Rev. Andy Schroeder and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Naumann.  Breakout sessions included “Mission Kenya” presented by Linda Nobili; “A Roundtable Discussion of Ethical Dilemmas” led by Kristin Wassilak, “Grace Place Retreats” given by Mr. John Diefenbach, and “Writing for Newsletters” presented by Jennifer Phillips. 

Of course the conference also included our annual business meeting, a “servant event” for Chicago Urban Ministries, and the collection of a mission offering, this year designated for mercy relief work in Haiti. 

Rev. Paul T. McCain, Executive Director of Editorial Services at Concordia Publishing House, gave an entertaining address at the closing banquet on the theme “Celebrate and Serve.”  As a special surprise, Rev. McCain brought a first edition copy of the Book of Concord for CDC members to enjoy.  The banquet also included the presentation of gifts to women celebrating the anniversaries of their deaconess commissioning, a presentation of the Dr. Paul A. Zimmerman award to Rev. John Berg, and a presentation of the Phoebe Award to Cheryl D. Naumann.