On Saturday, 11th May 2013, in the evangelical church in Szczecin we celebrated ordination of the deacon Izabela Sikora.
This event has its historical meaning. This was the first deacon ordination after almost thirteen-year break. What is more, this was the first woman’s ordination since the year 2000 in the Lutheran Church in Poland.
The act of ordination through prayer and laying on of hands was done by the Bishop of the Church, Rev. Jerzy Samiec, in the assistance of Rev. Karol Bauman, Rev. Sławomir Sikora and Rev. Dr. Christopher Ehricht from Cologne (Germany).
After ordination, deacon Izabela Sikora begun her service in the evangelical parish in Szczecin. She is also the only one deacon in the Wrocław Diocese.
Izabela Sikora is 34 years old and comes from Cieszyn. In 2003 she graduated from theology and pedagogy at the Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw. Currently she is graduating from special pedagogy and oligophrenopedagogy at the University in Szczecin.
Since the year 2000, together with her husband they were engaged in the Church service in Leszno and then in Wisła. Since 2007 she has been living and working in Szczecin, getting engaged in the services, work among women, ecumenical activity. She has two children.
The office of Deacon is fulfilled by the people (both men and women) who, depending on the type of preparation, work in the field of charitable work, mission ministry or help in the parish by: leading the services, conferring the Sacrament of Baptism, weddings, assistance in conferring the Sacrament of the Altar and other tasks defined by the church law.
Currently there are 15 deacons (14 women and one man), serving in the four dioceses.
The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Poland respects one office which has three services: deacon –
Greek “diaconos” (servant), Presbyter (Pastor) – Greek „presbiteros” (elder) and Bishop – Greek „episkopos” (supervisor). Each of the three offices are called by the Church through separate ordinations.
To the Presbyter and Bishop office are in the Lutheran Church in Poland ordained only men.
Published from the materal of Kosciol Ewangelicko-Augsburski w RP
KANCELARIA BISKUPA KOSCIOLA