In a sacred dedication Thursday, March 1, clergy and members of the United Church of Christ (UCC), Deaconess Foundation Trustees and staff and Deaconess Center Board members gathered to bless the grounds of the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being. The dedication celebration served as the Opening Worship for the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) of the United Church of Christ’s Annual Gathering, which convened in St. Louis from March 1-3.
“As all things have aligned, it is fitting that the consecration of the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being occurred during CHHSM’s Annual Gathering in St. Louis,” said Rev. Starsky D. Wilson, president and CEO of Deaconess Foundation.
“Deaconess and its various forms of ministry have been affiliated with CHHSM and its predecessor bodies for as long as they have existed; as partners in ministry, we are called by our faith to be in service to others and are committed to creating just communities for children, youth, and families.”
The consecration service centered children and uplifted and affirmed their voices as Rev. Toni DiPina, pastor of Rockdale Congregational Church UCC in Northbridge, Massachusetts, delivered a hope-filled message while sharing her personal connection of having been abandoned at nine months old on the very grounds that the Deaconess Center now stands.
“It feels surreal to return to the very spot where I was abandoned to bless the work that God has ordained for his beautiful children, who will be blessed by the work of this ministry,” said Rev. DiPina. “I am so honored to be given the chance to bless the spot where my life changed forever.”
Rev. DiPina’s story was a continued source of inspiration throughout the construction of the Deaconess Center.
“We’re cultivating a movement for child well-being in St. Louis,” said. Rev. Wilson. “And upon learning of Rev. DiPina’s story it became clear to me that in the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being, God was reclaiming ground made sacred for the anchoring of the movement.”
The physical location has other implications.
“Due north of the St. Louis City Family Courts and Juvenile Justice Center, Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being is situated as a physical critique of the ways the region has chosen to engage challenges related to children and youth,” said Rev. Wilson. “The center encourages collaborative, systems-focused civic engagement for youth flourishing over isolated, program-oriented interventions or punitive approaches.”
Rev. John Dorhauer, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, brought greetings from the UCC and reflections on the church’s “Three Great Loves” – one of which is the Love of Children.
“The United Church of Christ has declared that our vision is to build a just world for all,” said Rev. Dorhauer. “We have called ourselves into mission to embody and incarnate those commitments through the Three Great Loves – Love of Neighbor, Love of Creation and Love of Children—in partnership with those well beyond the household of the United Church of Christ.”
Established by Deaconess Foundation, Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being is a community action tank. Deaconess’ mission is to build power to advance child well-being in the St. Louis region by strengthening alliances for child-friendly public policy, increasing citizen contact with policy makers, positioning youth and organizers to move systems and engaging faith communities in child advocacy.
Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being will house offices for Deaconess Foundation, Vision for Children at Risk and Unleashing Potential (formerly Neighborhood Houses). The $8.8 million, 21,000 square foot facility is expected to host more than 6,000 child advocates, civic leaders and community organizers per year in more than 350 gatherings focused on children’s policy. Meeting space will be granted at no cost to groups and convenings focused on shifting public policy for children aligned with Deaconess’ vision and values.
The center will host an opening event on Thursday, April 19. For more information, visit http://www.deaconess.org/about-deaconess/deaconess-center-child-well-being,
