Rev. Elder Arlene Joy Ackerman, died in Tucker, Georgia, on March 11, 2018, after an 18 month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Rev. Ackerman also ministered and lived in Stockton CA, Portland OR, Bakersfield CA, and Minneapolis MN.
She is survived by her wife of 38 years, Jacqueline Rae Bogle Ackerman, and their daughter, Amanda Joy Abebe Rae Ackerman, both of Atlanta, Georgia. Arlene, Jacquie, and Amanda created their own unique family in 1989, in Minneapolis MN through adoption when Amanda was 20 days old.
Rev. Elder Ackerman was born on February 22, 1949, in San Francisco, CA. She was lovingly adopted at the age of 6 months by Henry Ackerman and Amelia Heil Ackerman, of Lodi, CA. They raised a strong, caring woman who began her ministry at 18 years old.
She was licensed in 1977 and then ordained as clergy in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1987. She served as Senior Pastor, District Coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic District, and Regional Elder, before semi-retiring in 2005. During her last 7 years with MCC she served as a Resource Assistant to the Moderator of the Fellowship, writing guidelines and leading workshops for clergy and other leaders of local churches in MCC. She retired from MCC in 2015.
A Celebration of Life with reception following is scheduled for April 28, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at City of Light MCC in Atlanta, GA. All are welcome to attend and celebrate. In lieu of flowers and to donate in her memory please select the REVM program as a donation on the MCC website at www.mccchurch.org.
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