Building Bridges With Deacon Ali Clark
When Deacon Ali Clark visits a church, she usually arrives with two things: stories and invitations. Stories about the people KenCrest serves, and invitations for congregations to become part of those stories.
Ali was ordained as a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in December 2025 and accepted her call from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and was installed as KenCrest’s Faith Engagement and Outreach Coordinator in January 2026. In this role, she connects ELCA churches and other faith communities with the individuals KenCrest supports, helping create relationships rooted in care, inclusion, and shared purpose.
Her connection to KenCrest began with its history. Ali was inspired by the legacy of Sister Maria Roeck, a Philadelphia deaconess who partnered with Pastor August Fisher of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Kensington to help launch what would become KenCrest. Other deaconesses, including Sister Grace Jones, later shaped the organization’s mission to focus on early education and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Although the ELCA now uses the term “deacon,” Ali feels a strong kinship with these women whose faith and leadership laid the foundation for KenCrest’s work today.
Now, Ali travels throughout the five counties KenCrest serves in Pennsylvania, meeting with congregations and helping turn compassion into action. This might look like assisting church groups with assembling thank-you bags for Direct Service Providers, facilitating pastors visits to group homes, or walking with congregations as they increase the accessibility and inclusivity of their worship and community life for people with IDD. Last Advent, ten ELCA churches “adopted” 105 children from the Rev. Harvey Davis Family Fund, helping fulfill their Christmas wish lists.
Through her work, Ali continues to live out her ordination promise by sharing God’s love through both word and deed and strengthening the bonds between faith communities and the people KenCrest serves.
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