DETROIT, MI (June 28, 2013) – Advocates for Covenant Clergy Women (ACCW) presented three awards during the Evangelical Covenant Church’s Ministerium meeting as part of the 128th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Katie Isaza was presented with the Anderson/Nordlund Missionary Scholarship. The scholarship provides for continued training and education, awarded to a full-time female missionary called by the Covenant, on assignment through the Department of World Mission and supported by a local Covenant congregation.
Isaza, who serves in Medellin, Colombia, is completing her Masters of Arts in Christian formation. She is working with a new congregation, training and equipping leaders in the area of children’s ministry and Christian formation.
Isaza said that continuing her education is preparing her for the ministry of teaching. “Without it, I would not feel prepared to minister in these areas. The people I’m serving deserve the best, and my continuing education is allowing me to give my best.”
She is a member of New Community Covenant Church in Chicago, Illinois.
The Priscilla Pastorate Grant was awarded to Carolyn Rose, co-pastor of Royal Palm Covenant Church in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. The grant is given to a full-time female pastor regardless of title in a Covenant church and is a pastor in good standing in the Covenant Ministerium
Rose founded the Girls Mentoring Ministry based on Titus 2 and she ministers to girls 13 – 21 years old. The ministry began as a book club that focused on helping them understand the connection of salvation with everyday life, she said.
The ministry has grown to provide tutoring, Bible study and full participation in Sunday morning worship. Rose said she started the ministry because, “I was concerned that so many young people were leaving church and home for college but seemed ill-prepared to live the practical life of a Christian. I wanted to prepare these girls for a life on their own.”
The ACCW Mordecai Award for Outstanding Partnership was given to Ted Law, the senior pastor of ACCESS, a Covenant church in Houston, Texas. The award honors a male colleague who has demonstrated active support of women in ministry through providing advocacy, resources, support, and dialogue on behalf of all women in ministry. Those eligible for the award include administrators, teachers, pastors, and missionaries.
“When we advocate for clergy women, we help the church to awaken,” Law said. “When we encourage women leaders, we bring strength to the church body. Sometimes, we can do this simply by naming the obvious and calling out the gifts we see in our sisters.
“I hope that more of us men will become advocates both for the sake of the church and for the sake of our own health. I have learned much from my sisters in leadership, and they have undoubtedly sharpened me for the better.”
