Racial Ethnic and Women's Ministries/PW

Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women

Rhashell Hunter, Director

The Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women ministry area equips racial ethnic congregations, develops Presbyterian communities of faith that reflect our multicultural society, builds leaders of every race and gender and works for racial and gender justice.

From the Director

This is the Year of the Woman

In the past few weeks both men and women have come to me and said, “This is the year of the woman.” When Judge Sonia Sotomayer became the first Latina, and the third female Supreme Court justice and when Marta Rodriguez became the first Latina moderator of Presbyterian Women, Inc., I thought that 2009 was “The Year of the Woman.” But 2010 is also historic, as Judge Elena Kagan joins the Supreme Court, making the nation’s highest court one third women for the first time in history. Kagan will join Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor as the fist trio of women to serve together as justices. And, while it is not well known, a woman will head a major intelligence agency for the first time. Letitia “Tish” Long will become the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the office responsible for collecting and analyzing overhead images, maps and geospatial information.

Women have held positions of leadership in the church since the early church was formed. Yet, we don’t often know or remember these women’s names. We all know about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, the first woman preacher to proclaim that Christ is risen. And some of us know about Joanna, the female disciple who helped financially support Jesus’ ministry; Priscilla, who trained Apollos in Corinth and Lydia, the dealer in purple cloth, who opened her house to Paul, Silas and other believers. But there were also many unnamed women, just as there are in the church today, who faithfully engage in ministries that are transformative and substantial, yet we do not know they exist.

If this is “The Year of the Woman,” let’s commit in our churches to supporting women’s leadership, providing opportunities for young women and girls, and celebrating the good gifts of faithful women in our churches. If we do this, it will be an extraordinary year.

Women of Faith

Get to know the Women of Faith recognized at the 219th General Assembly.

Elona Street-Steward | Elizabeth Knott | Peggy Howland | Joyce Uyeda