Note #9224 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
06187 March 27, 2006
Women of Faith Award winners announced
6 honored for community impact, exemplify ethnic diversity of PC(USA)
by Jerry L. Van Marter
LOUISVILLE - Two deacons, two elders and two ministers have been named recipients of the 2006 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Women of Faith Awards.
They are:
Deacon Betty L. Grunstra, of Brookville (PA) Presbyterian Church in Kiskiminetas Presbytery, who gives much of her time to a visitation program, primarily in nursing homes, and who has established an annual Thanksgiving dinner for those who have no one with whom to celebrate the holiday;
Deacon Dawn Harvin, who as chair of the board of deacons at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh Presbytery) has led her congregation into increasing community service ministries;
Elder Evelyn Bonner, of First Presbyterian Church, West Point, MS (St. Andrew Presbytery), who has served as a volunteer leader at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, AK, and at Mary Holmes College in West Point, among others;
Elder Grace S. Kim, of Davis (CA) Community Church (Sacramento Presbytery) who, because she has also lived in China and Korea, has been a leading advocate for overseas and multicultural mission;
The Rev. Betty Meadows of Louisville (Mid-Kentucky Presbytery), who first as an associate executive of Greater Atlanta Presbytery and now as executive presbyter of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery has inspired growth in evangelism, new-church development and spiritual renewal for pastors, educators and church members; and
The Rev. Carmen Rosario-Reyes, parish associate at Jamesburg (NJ) Presbyterian Church (Monmouth Presbytery), whose passion for including Hispanic women and men into the life of the PC(USA) led her to found the Hispanic Leadership Development and Enhancement Program at Princeton Theological Seminary.
The six, chosen from a field of more than 100 nominees by a selection committee from the Women's Ministries Program Area in the National Ministries Division, will be honored at the June 18 Women of Faith Awards Breakfast during the 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, AL.
The racial-ethnically diverse sextet - two European-Americans, two African-Americans, a Korean-American and a Hispanic-American - were chosen, the committee said, because "they work quietly and humbly" in keeping with this year's Women of Faith Awards theme: "Tending the Flame: Women Called to Lead."
Typically, said Mary Elva Smith, associate director for women's ministries, two of the recipients "were stunned" to learn of their selection, and commented, "But I am not deserving, I just do my job."
Added Smith: "Each of those selected makes an impact where they serve and becomes an icon for all women. Through them we see Jesus, and thus we can see 'as through a mirror dimly' ourselves serving on Christ's behalf as well."
The members of the selection committee were Carolyn Jordan (convenor), Aleida Jernigan (Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns), Sunok Pai (Widening the Circle Fund), Jean Demmler (National Ministries Division), Aida Faris (Presbyterian Women), Omayra L. Gonzalez-Mendez (Racial Ethnic Young Women Together), the Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen (National Association of Presbyterian Clergywomen) and Kimberly Coblentz (National Network of Presbyterian College Women).
Tickets for the Women of Faith Awards Breakfast are available for $25 through the Office of the General Assembly, by phone at (888) 728-7228, ext. 2417; or online at www.pcusa.org/ga217/registration.htm.
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Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202 (888) 728-7228