History

1836	Foundation of the first Deaconess House by Theodor and Friederike Fliedner in Kaiserswerth on the Rhine.
1861	First Kaiserswerth General Conference of boards of European deaconess houses.
1890 onwards	Beginning of other deaconess associations and diaconal sisterhoods as and other expressions of deaconess vocation.
1946	Following a Dutch initiative an international conference of representatives of European deaconess house took place in Utrecht. It was decided to found a new association. In addition to the deaconess associations other diaconal groups with other structure
1947	Foundation of the DIAKONIA World Federation.

DIAKONIA World Conferences and their themes

Year	Venue	Theme
1946	Utrecht, Netherlands	Conference of European Deaconess Houses DIAKONIA takes shape
1947	Copenhagen, Denmark	The Church Responsibility for Diaconia Foundation of the International Federation DIAKONIA
1949	Zürich-Zollikerberg, Switzerland	The Service of Women in the Church
1951	Den Haag/Utrecht, Netherlands	Psychotherapy for Ministry; Youth and Vocation
1954	Oslo, Norway	Diaconia in the Rapid Change of Time
1957	Strasbourg, France	Welfare State and Diaconia
1960	Uppsala, Sweden	The Female Diaconate of the Church
1963	Berlin, Germany	Female Diaconia in the Oikumene
1966	Edinburgh, Scotland	Diaconia on New Roads
1969	Tampere, Finland	Christ Present Start of relief action DIAKAID
1972	New York, USA	Signs of the Church of Tomorrow
1975	Bethel/Bielefeld, Germany	To live the Gospel in a broken world
1979	Manila, Philippines	The more Excellent Way (1 Cor. 13)
1983	Warwick, England	The Sacrament of Care
1987	Bern, Switzerland	To serve with Christ in an endangered World
1992	Wolfville, Canada	Christ with us in the Storms of Life
1996	Friedrichroda, Germany	Bridges of Reconciliation - Hope and Mission
2001	Brisbane, Australia	Hearts on Fire in a New Time - click for details
2005	Durham, England	Diakonia at the Margins - Challenge and Hope