wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 261

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (267
notes).

Note 265 by UMNS on Aug. 7, 1997 at 16:20 Eastern (5001 characters).

 TITLE: Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news
agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville,
Tenn., New York, and Washington.

Black Clergywomen
 CONTACT: Linda Green                          453(10-31-71B){265}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Aug. 7, 1997

Black clergywomen meet as organized body; 
encourage creation of scholarship honoring Bishop Kelly  

     ATLANTA (UMNS) -- After 10 years of planning and
transformations, an organization has emerged whose purpose is to
promote, develop, support and enhance opportunities for black
clergywomen in the United Methodist Church.
     The Black Clergywomen of the United Methodist Church
(BCWUMC), met here for the first time as an organization (date)
and began developing strategies to deal with the myriad of justice
issues they face within the church. 
     There are approximately 400 black clergywomen in the
denomination.
     According to the Rev. Linda Lee, a district superintendent
from Detroit and chairwoman of the meeting, "we've been through
the journey to get here."  
     The organization is the result of a 1988 consultation. From
that meeting, an African-American Clergywomen's Steering Committee
was formed under the leadership of retired Bishop Leontine Kelly.
In 1993, the group came together around issues of justice and
advocacy for black clergywomen. It joined forces with Black
Methodists For Church Renewal (BMCR) as a task force to advocate
with and for black clergywomen.
     After a vote to dissolve the African-American Clergywomen's
Steering Committee at a national BMCR meeting, concern was raised
that an organization was needed for all black clergywomen,
regardless of affiliation to BMCR.
     In 1996, BCWUMC organized and here, Aug. 4, approximately 85
members affirmed the preliminary work already accomplished. 
     The group will relate to BMCR but will not be under its
leadership. It is open to all United Methodist clergywomen of
African descent: elders, deacons, local pastors, diaconal
ministers, seminarians, undergraduate students and retirees. The
organization will get its financial support from members' dues.
     During the meeting, the women elected an executive committee,
ratified by-laws and developed a list of priorities. 
     The top priorities were:
     * developing a system of networking;
     * understanding the appointment process;
     * mentoring young women in the ministry. 
     Elected officers were:  Lee, chairwoman; vice chairwoman, the
Rev. Sherry Townsend, director of teaching ministries, Texas
Annual Conference; recording secretary, the Rev. Charlotte Abrams,
Union Memorial United Methodist Church, Omaha, Neb.;
administrative secretary, the Rev. Vanessa Stephens Lee,
Federalsburg Zion United Methodist Church, Federalsburg, Md.;
treasurer, the Rev. Rosa Clements,  North Hill United Methodist
Church, Akron, Ohio; clarifiers, the Rev. Neriah Edwards, 
Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Warrenville Heights, Ohio, and
the Rev. Debra Grady, pastor of Lockerbie Square United Methodist
Church, Indianapolis, Ind.; and chaplain, the Rev. Vivian
McFadden.
     In appreciation for Kelly as their mentor and leader, the
group requested the churchwide Board of Higher Education and
Ministry establish a scholarship in her honor. 
     The resolution encourages the board to provide support for a
fundraising committee across the denomination to implement the
scholarship and define criteria for awarding it. 
     The "Bishop Kelley Justice Award," also established by the
group, honors her involvement with justice issues on a variety of
levels. Aaron Turpeau, a nephew, accepted a sculpture on behalf of
Kelly as the award was announced. Kelly is recovering from an
illness.
     The first Bishop Kelly Justice Award recipient is the Rev.
Joyce Harris-Scott, pastor of Central Avenue United Methodist
Church, Kansas City, Kans. "I can't stand to see God's people
hurting," she said. "He laid the ministry of justice on my heart
.. when he saw black clergywomen being denied gifts and graces

for ministry."
     Following the new association meeting, an Aug. 4-8
convocation called "I Have An Appointment with God" brought
approximately 400 clergywomen of African, African-American and
Caribbean descent to the Atlanta University Center campuses, for
empowerment, enlightenment, scholarship and rededication.  
     Opening with a drum processional and music by Cynthia Wilson-
Felder the convocation participants, attended worship, workshops,
and large sessions to reaffirm their commitments to God, restore
their spirits and reestablish their identity as black women in the
ministry. 
     Preachers from the United Methodist, Roman Catholic and
Baptist churches led in praise, worship and nurture settings.
Pastors, professors, attorneys, writers and counselors from
various denominations offered workshops to help them be better
witnesses in the world.
                              #  #  #
     

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