This notice was sent by email on June 5th, 2025 to deacons and deacon postulants.
Dear Friends in Christ,
I hope you all have had a holy Easter season, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord! I write with an update on the emerging Deacon Council.
As shared on previous Deacons’ Calls, I have developed a new body aimed at supporting, empowering, and raising the voice of our deacons in the life of our diocese. The three-person council will meet with me, making recommendations around three core areas: network development, formation, and deployment. It brings me great joy to share that three incredible deacons have agreed to serve in these roles:
The Revs. Anne Reed, Otto Anderson, and Stacey Sands will serve our diaconal community and wider diocese on the new Deacon Council.
The council will be convened by the Rev. Anne Reed, deacon serving Christ Church, Glendale and St. Andrew’s, Evanston. She will work closely with me, serving as the point person for people to contact with questions regarding diaconal ministry. She will bring together members of the council, leading meetings and communicating recommendations from the council to me. Bringing her familiarity with congregations, deacons, and priests across the diocese and beyond, Anne will strive to connect our leaders and those throughout the wider church. Anne has agreed to serve a one-year term as convener and can be contacted at dcnareed@gmail.com.
The Rev. Otto Anderson, deacon serving St. Paul’s, Oakwood and Christ Church, Xenia, will serve as our formation lead. He will work closely with the Rev. Rowena MacGregor and other faculty from the Deacon School, bringing awareness of formation needs, both diocesan and church-wide, and connecting with explorers, interns, postulants, and candidates throughout their discernment and formation. Otto has agreed to serve a two-year term and can be contacted at ottoanderson@sbcglobal.net.
The Rev. Stacey Sands, deacon soon to begin serving at All Saints, Pleasant Ridge, will focus on deployment, working closely with our transition minister, the Rev. Melanie Slane. She will offer recommendations toward fruitful placements for our deacons, bringing familiarity with our clergy leaders throughout the diocese and the unique gifts and opportunities of our various congregations and ministries. Stacey has agreed to serve a three-year term and can be contacted at deaconstaceysands@gmail.com.
Please join me in giving thanks for these leaders and their ministry in helping deacons throughout the Diocese of Southern Ohio to make Christ’s redemptive love known. It is a gift to serve God’s church with you, friends – I look forward to our continued work together.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White
Bishop
Diocese of Southern Ohio
