Board Bios
DOTAC President
Deacon Dionata Rodrigues de Oliveira, Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil
Deacon Dionata Rodrigues de Oliveira, now living in Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, graduated in Theology as a specialist in Diakonia from Escola Superior de Teologia – EST (Higher School of Theology), São Leopoldo. He completed his Master in Theology/Diakonia from EST in 2019. He is now a doctoral candidate from the same institution and employed as the Diaconal Advisor of Nordeste Gaúcho Synod. Since 2018, he has been the Community of Deacons (COD) Coordinator IECLB – Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil.
Vice-President
Reverend Helen Mallieu-Maurose – Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas
Representative of the Wesley Diaconal Community – Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas(WDC – MCCA) to DOTAC Board.
Helen Peta Mallalieu-Maurose is the elder of two daughters of Peter and Joan Mallalieu, was born in the beautiful twin island state of St. Kitts and Nevis. She has also lived in Dominica, Antigua, The U.S.A,England and Jamaica. She believes like Jeremiah, her preparation for itinerant ministry began before she was aware (perhaps even while she was in her mother’s womb) as life in no island or country lasted
longer than 7 years. She traveled extensively as a child and now Ministry has taken her to Grenada,
Barbados and St. Maarten, Jamaica, the BVI and now the USVI.
Her hobby of cooking led her to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY where she pursued studies in Culinary Arts. She worked in numerous Hotels and Restaurants in the U.S.A and Caribbean before returning to St. Kitts as Chef and Managing Director of The Patio, a family run Gourmet Restaurant.
It was during this time that she received the Call of God to feed his people with “food that will last” and she offered her gifts and graces for use within the Methodist Church as a Diaconal Minister.
In 1995 she began theological training at The United Theological College of the West Indies and the University of the West Indies obtaining a Diploma in Ministerial Studies and a B.A. in Theology respectively.
She was stationed to the Jamaica Methodist District where she served at the National Children’s Home (NCH), a Residential Childcare facility in the Kingston area. While serving the church she continued her studies attaining a Certificate in Social Work and then in 2001 she left Jamaica to attend the University of Leeds, in Great Britain, achieving a master’s degree, in Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care. While in the United Kingdom she was involved with N.C.H. UK and the Methodist Church in Leeds.
She returned to Jamaica where she continued serving the Methodist Church, having pastoral charge of congregations in numerous circuits across the island. She has also served as Chaplain for Primary and Secondary Schools and as “Station Pastor” for the Jamaica Constabulary Force in the communities where she resided. Her love for, and interest in the development of children and youth led her to serve the camping ministry of the church for as many years as she lived in Jamaica.
It was in Jamaica that she met the man of her dreams and now husband, Rev’d. Jeanty Maurose from the Republic of Haiti. The couple were married in St. Kitts in 2007. The clergy couple they continued serving in Jamaica until 2011.
They were then transferred to the Leeward Islands District and served The British Virgin Islands Methodist Circuit from September 2011- August 2016. And currently serve the St. Thomas St. John Circuit.
Her vision for her life is to allow God to use her and the gifts He has bestowed on her, for the empowerment of those whom he sends across the path of her life. Helen has oversight of the ministry among Women and Youth.
In her private life she enjoys Jazz and Classical music and finds great relaxation and refreshment for body and spirit while swimming or walking on the beach, tending her garden or playing tennis. She loves nature and has a special affinity to pets.
Treasurer
Jo Sheetz, The Office of Deaconess, Home Missioners and Home Missionaries-The United Methodist Church
Deaconess Jo (Elna) Sheetz has always had a heart for service. Growing up in Houston, she was very active with her Lutheran church and girl scout troop in inner city ministries. She attended Vanderbilt and Univ. of Tennessee in Nashville. She moved to Atlanta in 1983 with her husband and two small children and joined the United Methodist Church. As a stay at home mom she was involved in the community as a scout leader, outreach volunteer with the unhoused, ESL teacher, and served on many school and church committees. She earned her Master’s Degree in nonprofit administration from Ga. State University in 2000. Her internship was at the Atlanta Women & Children’s Day Shelter. Jo accepted the position of director of Atlanta Urban Ministries which serves the homeless women and children in Midtown Atlanta with feeding programs, transitional housing, and school-age childcare. She then became the Education Coordinator for Community Action Center, establishing Adult Education classes such as English, Computer, Parenting, Job Skills, for those in need in the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area of Atlanta. Her time serving at UMCOR Sager-Brown, Louisiana as Community Outreach Coordinator expanded her understanding of poverty in rural America. Jo has served on the North Georgia United Methodist Housing and Homeless Council, HomeStretch Transitional Housing Program Committee, Family Promise Host team and Global Health Action Board. She has found a home with the United Methodist Deaconesses and Home Missioner community since 2008. Although retired (does a deaconess ever retire?), she has served as hostess for the Fenton Deaconess Home in Chautauqua, NY, on the NADHM Board, Mission u Dean and on the UWF North Georgia Conference team. When asked where she lives, her response is “out of my suitcase!” (Atlanta, Houston, and everywhere!) She embraces the deaconess motto of “I serve neither for gratitude nor reward, but from gratitude and love; my reward is that I may serve.”
Secretary
Amie Stewart, United Methodist Deacons and Diaconal Ministers
Amie is an ordained deacon in full connection in the North Carolina Conference. Amie is serving as the Director of Conference Relations for GBHEM. She was born in Friendswood, Texas, and grew up in Herndon, Virginia – just outside of Washington DC. She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, and received her B.B.A. in Finance and International Business. After living in Arlington, VA and working as a consultant for a few years, Amie attended Duke Divinity School and received her Master of Divinity degree. During seminary, she served various churches through the field education program in Wilmington, Apex and Cary, NC. Previous appointments include serving as the Director of Christian Formation at Jonesboro UMC and Youth and Children’s Minister at Sunrise UMC.
Prior to serving in this role, Amie served within the Office of Ministerial Relations as the Associate Director for five years.
Amie and her husband Michael live in Apex and are blessed with two sweet kiddos. She enjoys cooking, running outside, and being with friends and family.
Rev. Ann Blane, Presbyterian Church in Canada – Order of Diaconal Ministries, Second Representative to DIAKONIA World Federation
Ann Blane spent her formative years in India where her parents were missionaries with The Presbyteiran Church in Canada. She is a member of the Order of Diaconal Ministries and an Ordained Minister within The Presbyterian Church in Canada. For the past 38 years Ann has served the church in a variety of ministries: Director of Christian Education, in Youth Ministries, Children and Family Ministries, Inner City Mission with Metis and inner city children and youth, Camp Director and Leadership in Training Director, Regional Staff for a Synod and has served with several pastoral charges. Presently she and her husband Robert live in the cottage community of Bobcaygeon, Ontario where she is the minister at Knox Presbyterian Church.
Holly Hoffman, Ecumenical Deacon Group of the ELCA, Evangelcal Lutheran Church in America
Holly Hoffman is a Deacon in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) and a pediatrician. She was originally consecrated a Diaconal Minister in 2010. She retired from pediatrics as of September 2024 after 39 years of practicing . She served in a congregational call at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carlisle Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2022. After retiring from call, Holly has been devoting her diaconal ministry to the immigrant population in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is Medical Director for Christ Lutheran Health Ministries and volunteers at a non-profit medical clinic which is primarily Spanish-speaking, Community Check Up Center. In addition to her medical ministries, she works with at-risk youth through SPY (Supportive Programing for Youth) and is an officer with the Amani Festival Committee, an event that celebrates diversity.
Nancy Ford, Association of Anglican Deacons of Canada/Association Anglicane des Diacres au
Canada
The Reverend Canon Nancy Ford is a Deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada. She was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in 1998. Nancy was the Director of Deacons in the Diocese of Islands and Inlets where she developed formation and training programs. During this time her ministry was as a therapist with an interdenominational counselling agency. Her specialty was trauma and abuse.
Later she was called to work as Deacon to the City out of the diocesan cathedral. She developed relationships with municipal and provincial leaders as well as partnerships with local agencies whose mandate was to end homelessness and offering recovery supports for those struggling with substance use.
She was part of the writing team which created the Iona Report. In 2017 she became President of Anglican Deacons Canada. She was named as a Companion of the Centre for Christian Studies in 2019.
She is a writer and has published articles in various publications including the Anglican Deacons Canada magazine Salt and Light, the column Spiritually Speaking in local newspapers, and has an article in the book: “Eucharistic Practice and Sacramental Theology in Pandemic Times”. The article is a contextual diaconal reflection.
Today Nancy is an Honourary Assistant at the diocesan Cathedral. She continues to offer Spiritual direction/mentoring. Her work in the community continues with an emphasis on mental health recovery and supports.
Nancy is grateful for her family and support of her spouse. She appreciates the wisdom of her children and grandchildren. When all becomes too serious, her two Labrador dogs make everyone laugh with their antics.
DEACON Vicki McPhee, Diakonia of The United Church of Canada
Deacon Vicki McPhee’s calling is to congregational ministry. She says, “I began an appointment with my congregation during my Integrating Year and was called to the congregation upon my commissioning. In 2021 I will be marking ten years in the same congregation. Ten years sounds like a long time but I have done many different things and had a variety of responsibilities while I have been serving there, it hardly seems like it’s been that long. When I first started, I was primarily responsible for children and youth programming and Faith Formation, Outreach and Stewardship. I was alone in team ministry for my first six months and then I had an ordained team mate for 3.5 years. Then I was the sole minister for some time until I was teamed, once again, with another ordained minister. We have been working together for three years now. I am now the minister responsible for Worship, Outreach and Stewardship. I spend much of my time planning worship services that involve a variety of members of the congregation–encouraging participation by as many people as possible. I take seriously my role of preaching as opportunities to educate and inspire people to act faithfully and compassionately to address the social justice concerns of our community and our world. I also provide leadership on most adult faith formation programs. I am not the minister responsible for Pastoral Care however I spend a lot of time connecting with people, offering a listening ear.”
Deaconess Adrainne J. Gray, Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA)
Deaconess Adrainne J. Gray, a consecrated deaconess of the Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA), is the Executive Director of the LDA and is an ordained deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Her ministry is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice, racial reconciliation, and community empowerment. She brings a diverse background of experience, from communications to global advocacy, to her work as a servant leader.
Prior to assuming the role of LDA Executive Director in January 2025, Adrainne served four years as an ELCA missionary with her partner Ben (a seasoned photojournalist), and their two children, Sylvia and James Everett. She was the Communication Officer for Communion Relations at the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Geneva, from 2020 to 2023.
Her career includes extensive communications work with LWF and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. In these roles, she helped amplify the voices of marginalized communities, advocating for peace, justice, and global unity throughout the Lutheran Church diaspora.
Adrainne holds a Master’s in Practical Theology from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, and a Journalism degree from the University of Florida – Gainesville.
Sister Dottie Almoney, Directing Deaconess of the ELCA Deaconess Community
Sister Dottie Almoney as she began her four-year term as Directing Deaconess of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA, on February 1, 2025!
Elected in November 2024, Sr. Dottie brings deep faith, extensive leadership experience, and a passionate commitment to social justice, equality, and community-building. Over her 25+ years at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA, she has been a steadfast advocate for faith formation, outreach, and inclusion.
Her leadership is rooted in a love for ministry and advocacy, as reflected in her doctoral thesis, Reclaiming the ‘D’ Word: The Ministry of Diakonia in the ELCA. She is a woman of vision with a heart for service. She is excited to be on the DOTAC Board and share in the ecumenical and international diaconate as one facet of living out the diaconal call to word and service ministry.
Deacon Michelle Collins, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Deacon Michelle Collins serves as Assistant to the bishop in the Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). She is known for her sermons on topics such as faith, inclusivity, and reconciliation. Her sermons often focus on themes of spiritual and societal healing, standing up straight (both physically and metaphorically), and overcoming burdens like shame, prejudice, and trauma. She emphasizes the need for both individual transformation and systemic change.