Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries awards more than $15,000 in scholarships
by Gail Strange | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries has announced the 2021 recipients of the Rev Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon Scholarship.
The scholarship supports Presbyterian clergywomen and college women of color as well as other women of color with opportunities for leadership and spiritual development, helping women to develop leadership gifts and be equipped for even greater service in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Sponsored by the Women’s Ministry Fund, the scholarship provides qualified applicants up to $1,500 for expenses for leadership development in the United States. It was established by The Presbyterian Mission Agency to honor Cannon’s name and legacy following her death in August 2018.
Cannon was a pioneer in the PC(USA). In 1974, she became the first African American woman ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the former United Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in 1983 she became the first African American to earn the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She served as the Annie Scales Rogers Professor of Christian Social Ethics at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, and as a minister member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia.
Jewel McRae, coordinator for Women’s Leadership Development & Young Women’s Ministries in the RE&WIM at the Presbyterian Mission Agency said, “I am so grateful that at a time when many women of color who have suffered the brunt of this nation’s health disparities, inequities in employment and even loss of jobs, homes, and other social injustices revealed by this pandemic that RE&WIM was able to award this scholarship to these 13 deserving women in 2021.”
The 2021 recipients include:
- Elizabeth Coleman, who will use her award for tuition for the Princeton Black Theology and Leadership Institute
- Charlene Jin Lee’s award will go toward tuition and expenses for clinical pastoral education
- Danita Nelson’s award will help her attend the Womanist Leadership Institute
- Ester Jung’s award will help pay expenses at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary as she pursues her Doctor of Ministry
- Eunjun Stella Lee will receive her board certification for chaplain as a result of her award
- Fnu Anye Kelly Bihneh will use her award at Chabot College in Hayward, California, in the School of Bio-Medical Science
- Gertrude K. Afriyie is using her award in pursuit of a Masters Degree as a physician’s assistant
- Isabelle Kaputo’s funds will be used for tuition assistance at Georgia State University
- Jessica Kasango, who is studying pre-law at Georgia State University, will use her award for tuition.
- Mylika Slaughter will use her funding for tuition at Columbia Theological Seminary
- Phanta Lansden’s funding will help pay tuition at Union Presbyterian Seminary for the Doctor of Ministry program
- Veronica Cannon’s award will help pay tuition at Union Presbyterian Seminary as Cannon pursues her Doctor of Ministry
- Enicia Montalvo will attend Fuller Theological Seminary training to become a commissioned ruling elder.
In total more than $15,000 was awarded to the 13 women engaged in a wide range of educational interests and professional pursuits.
With this scholarship, clergywomen of color and other women of color will continue to be provided with opportunities to attend national and regional church events, further their education, connect with others like themselves, network with those who are involved in searches and nominations processes, and be more equipped for ministry.
A leading voice in the subjects of womanist theology and women in religion and society, Cannon was a renowned lecturer on theological and ethical topics and the author or editor of numerous articles and seven books, including “Katie’s Canon: Womanism and the Soul of the Black Community” and “Black Womanist Ethics.”
Those wishing to learn more about the scholarship or to donate toward the scholarship should click here.
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Categories: Racial Justice
Tags: jewel mcrae, presbytery of philadelphia, Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries, rev. dr. katie geneva cannon scholarship, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, women's leadership development & young women's ministries, Women’s Ministry Fund
Ministries: Gender, Racial and Intercultural Justice, Women’s Leadership Development and Young Women’s Ministries, Katie Cannon Scholarship, Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries