Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries

In Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries, we engage the Church in its mission to become more diverse and inclusive of racial, ethnic, cultural and language groups, and we equip women for leadership in all ministries of the Church. 

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Meet the Director 

Rev. Dr. Rhashell d. Hunter 
 

The Reverend Doctor Rhashell D. Hunter is the Director of Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries in the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Prior to joining the Presbyterian Mission Agency, she served as Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Flint, Michigan, from 1998 to 2007, and she was Associate Pastor for Worship, Music and the Arts at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, from 1993 to 1998.  She is past Moderator of the Synod of the Covenant. Read more. 

Director's Message

Empowering one another

So what does it really mean to empower one another? It is an act of giving. Giving and sharing power equips others with the authority to lead. Giving up power may also be seen as an act of collegiality and grace. To share power is to co-participate in the work of ministry. By empowering and partnering with others, we are able to see gifts and talents that we, otherwise, may not have seen, and we participate in the success of others and the organizations where they serve. 

The beauty of empowering and partnering with others is that it does not have to take away from or diminish our own power, but can improve everyone’s condition. We share power and leadership with others when we allow others to truly live out their calls, and in doing so, support them in ministry. In Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries, we engage the church in its mission to become more diverse and inclusive of racial, ethnic, cultural and language groups, and we equip women for leadership in all ministries of the church. Our mantra is: "Grow, Transform, Empower, Lead and Develop."

In this issue of the RE&WM newsletter we will share with you how some amazing leaders are making a difference in their communities...to “simply do justice, love kindness, and humbly walk with your God" (Micah 6:8b, The Inclusive Bible). May these stories inspire you to do just this, and to join with and empower others.

Blessings,

PCUSA's Young Women Delegates to the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Read the full story about the fourteen young women from across the PC(USA) who participated in the 60th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Delegates were sponsored by the Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. —Jewel McRae

PC(USA) Women of Faith Awards presented at Presbyterian Mission Agency Board meeting

The Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has named the recipients of the 2016 Women of Faith Awards at the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board today at its meeting in Louisville. Lucy Apatiki, Sarah Noble-Moag and Clarissa Walker Whaley, all Ruling Elders in the PC(USA), were approved following recommendations from the Women of Faith committee. Nominations are received from throughout the church. A committee of representatives from groups related to the mission agency’s Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries ministry area and the Presbyterian Mission Agency select honorees. The three women will be honored at the Women of Faith breakfast on Sunday, June 19, during the 222nd General Assembly in Portland, Oregon. The theme for this year’s awards is “Women Building Bridges of Reconciliation.” Read the full press release

Intercultural Ministries: The Next Stepping Stone to Diversity in the Church

While the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to be largely European American, there is rapid growth in the church among immigrants and in some racial ethnic congregations. As the church evolves, we continue to explore what it means to worship and live in an intercultural context.

In order to define what it means to be intercultural, we must first understand the fundamentals that led us here – foundations that were laid in multicultural and intercultural communities and ministry.

In multicultural communities we live alongside one another, much like season ticket holders at a sporting event. We sit next to one another and cheer for the same team, sharing a common interest or identifier, standing or sitting side-by-side, at times in isolation of one another. In these communities, we value tolerance and celebrate one another’s culturally distinctive cuisine, dress, etc. in a polite social interaction, yet don’t necessarily address power differentials and don’t always allow for exchange between different cultural groups. 

In cross-cultural communities, more effort is made to reach across boundaries. We try to build bridges between cultural communities by sharing, listening learning and being open to changing. Cross-culturalism is distinct from multiculturalism. Whereas multiculturalism deals with cultural diversity within a particular nation or group, cross-culturalism addresses the exchange beyond the boundaries of the nation or cultural group. However, power differentials still may not be addresses, and may only allow for limited learning or exchanges between groups. Cultural differences may be understood, but may also be managed in a way that doesn’t necessarily allow for individual or collective transformation.

Moving one step further, we shift to intercultural ministries. In intercultural communities, we find comprehensive mutuality, reciprocity and equality. Justice defines our societal structures, and we find respect, equality, understanding and celebration through mutually beneficial relationships among and between cultures. We find that people from intercultural communities interact with one another and learn and grow together.

As a denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues to work to create intercultural communities where everyone can participate fully. Through the work of a the Office of Intercultural Ministries, we will:

• Offer Intercultural competency trainings
• Provide workshops to assist in developing vision and strategic approaches to building diversity
• Identify resources for congregations and individuals 

The Racial Ethnic Torch

Summer 2015 

In this issue of the Racial Ethnic Torch, we preview Big Tent 2015 and lift up the work that Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a whole, is doing as we strive to be more culturally humble. We explore the importance of using inclusive and expansive language, and the impact that power, privilege and justice in our lives and in society, and in our antiracism work. 

Download here.