Should Deaconesses Retire At 60?

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 2

Should Deaconesses Retire At 60?

Deaconesses in Scotland objected to their compulsory retirement at 60, an age when many considered they were still fit for work, said Sister Helen Hercus in Christchurch yesterday. \

Sister Hercus recently’ returned from the triennial conference of the Ecumenical Federation of Deaconess Associations and Orders held in Edinburgh.

The principal of the Presbyterian Deaconess College in Dunedin, she was one of six New Zealanders to attend the conference of 250 deaconesses from 22 countries.

“Retirement In New Zealand is not compulsory at 60, but satisfactory conditions

Switzerland and other European countries had already reached a satisfactory solution. There, deaconesses took a vow of obedience and were attached to a mother house to which they returned for rest, fellowship and retreat during their annual holidays. As they reached retiring

age, they found their heavy responsibilities taken from them and they were assigned lighter duties. “Their retirement is so gradual and so graceful that they hardly notice,” said Sister Hercus. When they were ready for

full retirement they returned to their mother houses to live permanently. European deaconesses took a vow of chastity as well as the usual vow of obedience and the mother house was their home. Their life was similar to Roman Catholic sisters. They did not receive a stipend like their counterparts in New Zealand, but received pocket money for small expenses. Many were posted overseas, but others remained in their own countries to manage the welfare institutions of their order.

Preparation and training for the role of the deaconess was undergoing great change everywhere, said Sister Hercus. She predicted that nursing duties of European deaconesses would eventually be relieved, and they would have more time for general duties within their parishes. Training of deaconesses in New Zealand needed to be reviewed. At present they studied for three years at a college for deaconesses. Colleges in Scotland usually had larger staffs for tutoring and group work and recruits were given a thorough training in Bible study. However, students in New Zealand were better prepared in theology.