Helping Deacons Live Out Call in U.S.

World Renew has appointed Jodi Koeman to serve as Church with Community Coordinator.

This new position, also supported by Pastor Church Resources and the Office of Social Justice, seeks to network and equip deacons in the United States to help their churches in restoring their communities.

In today’s ministry context, the work of deacons is increasingly vital. World Renew was founded by CRC deacons in 1962 and has continued to serve them in various ways through the years.

Koeman’s position will empower churches to build on World Renew’s history of community transformation and on the Christian Reformed Church’s heritage of service-oriented deacons.

In 2015, synod recognized the importance of increased attention to diaconal ministry. That same year, after retiring from World Renew, Andrew Ryskamp began consulting and providing leadership to diaconal ministries in response to a request of synod. Ryskamp explained that “in 2015 the synod of the CRC asked its churches to live into a vision where all its members were called into diakonia, living lives of service exemplified by mercy, reconciliation, and justice.”

Church councils and classes, as well, were asked to give leadership to living this out communally, with special emphasis on the office of deacon, he added.

Pastor Church Resources was recently tasked with developing some focused support for elders and deacons. Scott DeVries, Connections manager, clarified: “Deacons in Canada already had great support through Diaconal Ministries Canada, but we recognized there wasn't anything comparable for deacons in the U.S. We are very happy to have the opportunity to partner with World Renew and other ministries in hiring Jodi as the new Church with Community Coordinator to begin filling in that gap. In just a few short months Jodi has already helped to bring a depth of practical experience and head knowledge to these efforts, not to mention a clear passion for the work.”

Reggie Smith, director of the Offices of Race Relations and Social Justice, commented, “Jodi is a wonderful fit for the Church in Community position. She brings a wealth of experience, tons of energy, and a listening posture. As director of the Office of Social Justice, my support for the position continues a long-held commitment to collaborative ministry through Jodi's work.”

Koeman grew up in Sheboygan, Wis., earned a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College and master’s degree in community development, organizing, and administration at Boston University.

She has served in community development work in Grand Rapids, Mich., Washington, and Massachusetts, and has led non-profit organizations as director of Girls Inc. and as executive director of the Community Harvest Project, both in Massachusetts.

She and her husband, Kent, were members of the core team that served New England Chapel, a CRC church plant in Franklin, Mass. She worked there for 15 years as pastor of community restoration, building teams to lead their diaconal work using a community development approach in caring for one another and engaging locally in their community and globally.

Most recently she served as the director of spiritual formation at Whitinsville (Mass.) Christian School, where she led  service-learning programs for grades K-12.

Koeman is looking forward to engaging, equipping, and empowering deacons and other church leaders and members to be the church as it lives out its call to be agents of change in their communities.

For more information about how your church can increase effective diaconal ministry, contact Jodi at [email protected].