Before 1989, Anglican women ministering in the Sydney diocese were “set apart” as deaconesses— the lay order from which ADM’s name is derived. In 1989, that changed as trained women began to be ordained as deacons. There are no more deaconesses working in paid employment, though some still serve as they can and pray faithfully. And now, we are seeing the first female deacons start to retire. Rev. Jan Donohoo was in that historic first cohort of female deacons, and since then, she’s served in various ministry across the Diocese. All the diversity of her experiences have prepared her well for her current role: ADM Chaplain to the deaconesses and retired female clergy.

ADM is pleased to announce the appointment of Liz Mansour as Chief of Staff. The ADM Chief of Staff role has been primarily designed to help break down silos between ministries and ensure that ADM’s strategic priorities are progressing.

The Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute (MHPCI) is growing quickly, and it recently became clear that in order to continue providing Christians and churches with informed and compassionate mental health resources, the Institute needed to employ another team member.

Our CEO Mary Un was honoured to be asked by Bible Society Australia to write a one-week set of devotions for their Daily Bible series. Mary’s reflections draw on a 1917 publication, the Deaconess Book of Devotions, printed during World War I. We invite you to read the series, reflecting on God’s Word and learning from the faithful witness of the courageous and committed women who served as Deaconesses.

Over the past year, Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM) has embarked on a journey of prayerful reflection to sharpen the articulation of our vision, mission, and values, in alignment with our Constitutional Object and Theological Principles. This work, driven by extensive collaboration among the ADM Board, CEO, and staff, has sought to clarify our identity, purpose, and avenues for engagement, allowing Christians to play active roles in our ministries. 

Nestled in the heart of Sydney's bustling CBD, Anglican Deaconess Ministries (ADM) is pleased to unveil a new initiative tailored exclusively for women in ministry. We’re excited to announce the launch of our Women in Ministry Co-working Space, a peaceful environment designed to foster productivity, collaboration, and support among women in ministry.