To learn more about how the deaconess organisation is being kept alive despite a decline within the Sisterhood, we have been hearing about the new Fellowship project at Sankt Lukas Stiftelsen in Denmark from Project Coordinator Rebekka Fischer-Nielsen.

 

What are the reasons behind the new Fellowship at the St Luke’s Foundation?

Up until now the premises of “Sankt Lukas Stiftelsen”, (St Luke’s Foundation) has been the home of sisters working within diaconal fields such as nursing, child and elderly care, and teaching. Despite its important and valuable work, the fellowship of sisters has declined in size since the 1940s. Therefore, since the late 80s the idea of rethinking the fellowship of sisters has been an ongoing consideration to secure the future of the community and give it a new lease of life.

 

Which initiatives have been made in the time of transition?

Different things have been done. For instance people with experience in the area of living communities have been invited to share their knowledge with the core group of people who has working with the project and process, and thorough renovation to the premises and apartments have been taking place. Furthermore a workshop has been held where people with an interest in the prospect of living together in a Christian Fellowship brainstormed their ideas and considerations about how the future of the Fellowship might evolve.

 

How have the Sisters been involved in the process?

A long consultation period has allowed original members of the Fellowship to share their thoughts and ideas and to ask questions, as well as keeping them up to date on the progress of the developments. It has allowed the sisters the opportunity to express their concerns about the changes taking place within their existing living arrangements, and to talk about any insecurities they may have with the unknown future of the institution.

 

When will the Fellowship begin?

Since autumn 2016, we have already begun by extending the invitation for people to join the “Lukas Fællesskabet” (The Luke Fellowship). The first new arrival moved in to join the Fellowship in January 2017.

 

How many people will be involved in the project?

It is forecast that by August 2018, the Luke Fellowship will consist of 55 people from various walks of life. It is hoped that sisters and non-sisters aged from 1 to 91 years will come together to live as neighbours on the premises; in a village-style atmosphere with lodgings, a church and green spaces a long side with the institutions on the premises: a children’s day-care centre, a nursing home for old people, hospice and a language school. As well as the 15 sisters from the original Fellowship, there are 14 more or less recent additions to the Fellowship who during the recent years were invited to live on the premises and were subsequently invited to join the community. Further, there will be an additional 26 new fellows. Among the most recent arrivals, the group will be comprised of children, young people, individuals and families of all ages to give Lukas Fællesskabet a new lease of life and vitality.

 

How can you become part of the Fellowship?

The requirements to enter the Lukas Fællesskabet have eased to accommodate new members. Whilst fellows should still be a member of The Danish State Church, the requirements regarding participation, hours worked and volunteering are more fluid in the latest changes within the Fellowship.

 

What would life by like as a Luke’s Fellow?

One of the goals of the Luke Fellowship is to encourage its members to interact with the other fellows, and to not live their own secluded lives on the premises. Further, sharing the mind-set of “diaconia” is another priority, however members are free to practise this mindset in various ways. This can be done by meeting their neighbours, helping others, taking part in church life by attending daily devotions, and leading services once in a while. A final requirement is that Fellows will volunteer either in one of the social institutions on “Sankt Lukas Stiftelsen”, or will start a new initiative beyond the grounds, thereby supporting those in need from the local area.

 

Will there be an introduction or trial period for new members?

To ease new participants into the Fellowship, new arrivals are initially invited to live on the premises for six months for an initial introduction program. During this induction period, incoming fellows will eat together every other week, attend lectures on diaconia and get to know each other. A principal aim of this introduction is to develop the relations within the Fellowship in order to have a solid ground to build on. New fellows are therefore encouraged to get acquainted with one another by inviting each other into their homes, participating in church life and getting involved in various diaconal activities.

 

What can new Fellows expect after the introduction period?

After these six months it will be decided whether or not the newcomer and the rest of the Fellowship wish for the contract to end or to continue. The decision is based not only on how the incoming fellow has interacted and bonded with existing members, but also how they have engaged with activities and volunteering, and demonstrated their commitment to diaconia, its legacy, and the values of the institution.