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Title: ELCA's First Diaconal Ministers Named ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 11, 1996 FIRST DIACONAL MINISTERS NAMED "This is an historic moment" for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said the Rev. Michael Cooper-White, director of the ELCA's Department for Synodical Relations. The church assigned its first two diaconal ministers. Margaret Schmitt Ajer serves part-time as deployed staff of the ELCA's Division for Ministry and as staff of Bethania Lutheran Church, Solvang, Calif.; and she will continue in those positions as a diaconal minister. Katherine Miller, a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, West Des Moines, Iowa, will be available for service as a diaconal minister in the Southeastern Iowa Synod. A "rite of consecration" for diaconal ministers is under review . Plans for the consecrations of Ajer and Miller have not been finalized. The ELCA's 1993 Churchwide Assembly approved the new form of lay ministry after a five-year study of ministry. Ajer and Miller were assigned during a two-day process involving representatives of the ELCA's eight seminaries. Another 152 men and 104 women were assigned to serve in ordained ministry. Fifteen were assigned for calls as associates in ministry. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2058; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956