Promise for Ministry
Two Perkins graduates and one current student are part of the inaugural “Promise for Ministry Leadership” cohort. The program is hosted by Journey Toward Racial Justice, a partnership between the North Texas Conference and the Texas Methodist Foundation. The program aims to enhance the skills of younger ethnic clergy through a series of classes/experiences curated by the Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF) and taught by some of TMF’s leading teachers and experts. The inaugural class of six scholars includes a current Perkins student, Pastor Rosedanny Ortiz, who serves at Casa Linda UMC; and two alums: the Rev. David Rangel (M.Div. 2017, D. Min. 2020) of Custer Road UMC in Plano and the Rev. Martha Valencia (Master of Church Ministries, 2009; M. Div. 2013) of Elmwood El Buen Samaritano UMC in Dallas.
A Story of Resilience
The Rev. Ugonna Onuoha (Master of Religious Education, 1998) was recently interviewed for a Texas Methodist Foundation podcast entitled “Story of Resilience – Ugonna’s Story.” In the interview, she shared how her daughter Agnes was diagnosed with lupus in third grade and passed away in 2019 at age 23. This was the first time Onuoha shared the story to a public audience. The podcast series, Reservoirs of Resilience, is inspired by a monograph written by Bishop Janice Huie, and is produced by TMF’s Leadership Ministry. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders in conversations and environments that create a network of courage, learning, and innovation in order to help the church lean into its God-appointed mission. Onuoha is a Staff Chaplain at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Listen to the podcast here. https://tmf-fdn.org/podcasts/episode/a-story-of-resilience-ugonnas-story?fbclid=IwAR1Uj11soXyC2dJCefBPlUAE1p5JzmfPLo6rwVbeT9bVQxQpul-kxWUD-Mo
‘Girls, Jesus is calling YOU!’
In a March 3 video message for Women’s History Month, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño (M. Th. 1979) of the California-Nevada Conference shared some of the lessons she has learned about the value of women in helping heal the world and the plan that God has for all of us. Watch video
Dawson Taylor to Deliver Address
The Rev. Dr. Dawson B. Taylor, Senior Pastor of Naples United Church of Christ in Naples, Fla., will deliver the commencement address to Lancaster Theological Seminary’s Class of 2021 on May 8 at Church of the Apostles in Lancaster, Pa. After earning an M.T.S. from Perkins in 2006, Taylor left the United Methodist Church after coming out as a gay man. In 2006, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ and served as an associate pastor at the Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas. In 2016, he was called to Naples United Church of Christ, one of the 10-largest UCC congregations in the United States. Taylor is the youngest senior pastor to serve the congregation.
Women’s History Event
Three Perkins alumnae and a current student were part of a Q&A hosted by the North Texas Conference website in celebration of Women’s History Month. Six female clergy serving in the conference shared their experiences and paths into ministry. Perkins community members participating were Pastor Rosedanny Ortiz, a current Perkins student and Senior Pastor of Casa Linda UMC; and four alumnae: the Rev. Danielle Kim (M. Div. 2019); Associate Minister of Adult Discipleship, Custer Road United Methodist Church, Plano; the Rev. Joy Anderson (Master of Religious Education, 1970); Associate Pastor, First UMC Richardson; the Rev. Abbey Echols (M. Div. 2018); Associate Pastor, First UMC Sherman; and the Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson (MTS 1983, MDiv 1989, D.Min. 1996), Senior Pastor at Hamilton Park UMC in Dallas. Read the Q&A here: https://ntcumc.org/the-most-rewarding-and-soul
Musical Tribute
Recently Billy Crockett produced a moving tribute to the incredible service that nurses have played in our society over the past year. Crockett, a member of the Executive Board of Meadows School of the Arts, is a very well-known musician and music producer; he appears as second guitarist in the video. His wife, Dodee Crockett (M.T.S. 2003) is a Vice Chair of the Perkins Executive Board. Watch the tribute here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79KSW8dQz2M