Racial Ethnic & 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 cross cultural society, builds leaders of every race and gender and works for racial and gender justice.

From the Director

The Church is the people

              Here is the church.

             Here is the steeple.

              Open the doors

               See all the people.

We all know that the church is more than the building; the church is the people.  The character of the church is evident not so much by its architecture, but by those people who inhabit the building and whose ministry is shown in their caring relationships with each other.  It is important for us to remember that the church is not just the building we come to, but it is also the gathering of people who share Christ's love with each other.  The church is the people. 

Those of us in Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW are reminded everyday of the people who make up the churches in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Our Congregational Support offices work with new immigrants and emerging people, African people, Korean people, Asian people, African American people, Latino-a people, Middle Eastern people, Native American people, and those who speak Portuguese languages.  And, those of us in the Women’s Leadership Development & Justice Ministries offices and in Presbyterian Women, Inc., work with women from various geographical, cultural and social locations.  All of these wonderful sisters and brothers in Christ, the people in fellowships, presbyteries, synods, and congregations, make up the multicultural, beloved community of God.  When we gaze upon the beauty of God’s people, we are reminded that they, indeed, are the Church!

Meet the Director 

Rev. Dr. Rhashell d. Hunter 
 

The Reverend Doctor Rhashell D. Hunter is the Director of Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW 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.

Dr. Hunter was awarded the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree and the Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, the Master of Fine Arts degree from Trinity University, the Bachelor of Arts degree and a Texas Teachers' Certificate in Drama and Journalism from the University of Houston. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Preaching at McCormick Theological Seminary, Western Theological Seminary and in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program.  She is a frequent preacher, keynote speaker, and workshop leader, having taught Anglican priests in Canada in excellence in preaching programs, teaching and ruling elders and church leaders in national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) conferences, and leading worship for small and large congregations, including racial ethnic and new immigrant churches.

Dr. Hunter is a contributor to Preaching God’s Transforming Justice, a Lectionary Commentary for Church Years A, B & C, published by Westminster John Knox Press in 2011, 2012 and 2013.  She is also the writer of the PC(U.S.A.)’s Celebrate the Gifts of Women resource for 2011.  Her paper, “Gathering Everyone at the Center,” was presented at the Academy of Homiletics, and her article, “Preaching as Testimony: African American Womanist Preaching,” was published in The African American Pulpit journal.

She is a second career clergy person, having had a career in the performing arts in New York, Dallas and Houston.  She has integrated her gifts in the performing arts with her ministry in the church and has provided experiences that integrate drama and dance into the worship life of the congregation.  She has a love for preaching and also a commitment to building bridges in multicultural communities.

Dr. Hunter was reared in Dallas, Texas, in multicultural Presbyterian congregations.  She is the daughter of The Rev. Dr. Charles A. Hunter and Mrs. Annie Mary Alexander Hunter.

New Associate for African Emerging Ministries

Samuel Atiemo has joined the staff of Racial Ethnic & Women's Ministries/PW  as the Associate for African Emerging Ministries. Sam will work in partnership with mid councils to ignite the movement to grow new African worshiping communities. He will also provide leadership development to African emerging leaders. And, he will work for justice and the appreciation of all of God's people in the church, specifically bringing forth the voice of African immigrant Presbyterians, and sharing their culture, spirituality, diversity, and social justice concerns throughout the PC(U.S.A.). 

Samuel has served as Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York, for fifteen years. He also served as Field Staff in the Office of New Immigrant Ministries, from 2000-2003. 

Samuel was awarded a M.Div. and M.A. in psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary, a M.A. degree in counseling psychology from the U.S. International University, Nairobi campus, a Master of Education from the University of Manchester in England, and a  B.A. in psychology from the University of Ghana.

Synod/Presbytery News: New Charter

First Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, a part of Seattle Presbytery, was chartered April 14. The church started as a weekly Bible study in 2002 and began a partnership with Mercer Island Presbyterian Church in 2003.

“We are looking forward to doing future ministries with MIPC for the Kingdom of God,” said Commissioned Ruling Elder Roger Wu.  For more details are new worshiping communities, click here.

Extending the legacy

African American Mentoring Event focuses on developing church leaders through effective mentoring relationships

by Emily Enders Odom

MONTREAT, NC - “Some of us have been looking forward to this day for years,” the Rev. Dr. Rhashell D. Hunter told those gathered for the opening session of the African American Mentoring Event on April 21. “To identify and equip African American women and men who might serve in the future as heads of staff or in executive leadership has long been a dream for many of us.”

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Commission on the Status of Women

Presbyterian Delegation to Help Form an Intergenerational Approach to Eliminating and Preventing Violence Against Women

by Jessica Denson

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK - This March, a group of about 70 Presbyterians, along with ecumenical partners and many non-profit organizations, will play a vital role as the United Nations outlines its international approach to women’s issues – specifically in efforts to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls. Among the group, young Presbyterian women will serve as the eyes, ears, and voice of their generation.

They will take part in activities surrounding the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York City March 4-15.  During this yearly meeting, representatives from member states gather at UN headquarters to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide. Through this dialog with Presbyterians and other attendees, the Commission sets its global policy in regards to women’s issues under the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

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Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday

In 2013, Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday honors women through whom God is transforming the church in an emerging era. Though the official Celebrate the Gifts of Women brochure, your congregation or women’s groups may use this resource on any day that you choose. The resource also includes:

• A worship service with a call to worship, prayer of confession, suggested hymns, suggested scripture readings and a litany of remembrance and renewal.
• Preaching and program suggestions.
• Recommended resources for further study.

Get Celebrate the Gifts materials

2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women liturgy
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2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women liturgy (Spanish)
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2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women flier
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2013 Celebrate the Gifts of Women bulletin cover
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A strategy for ministry

Hispanic/Latino-a Presbyterians gather to discuss action plans, measurable goals

by Tony Aja

Louisville – Ruben Armendariz, consultant for church development in Mission Presbytery and considered by many the expert on Hispanic ministries in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), speaks proudly of “the rich heritage that Hispanics/Latinos bring from their cultural background and life.”

How will the PC(USA) benefit from this richness?

Hispanic Presbyterians from across the United States and Puerto Rico met Oct. 30-Nov. 2 to discuss the future of this ministry. The gathering was sponsored by the National Presbyterian Hispanic/Latino Caucus and the offices of Hispanic/Latino-a Congregational Support and Resources and Relationships with Hispanic/Latino Constituencies.

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Native American Ministries Consultation

Transforming into partners in mission

by Jessica Reid

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - “Through our unique Native American perspective, we can bring a lot to the non-Indian churches,” Elder Aaron King said during a small group discussion at the 2012 Native American Ministries consultation in Phoenix, Arizona.

The consultation took place January 24 through January 26.  It was organized by the Native American Consulting Committee (NACC) and the General Assembly Mission Council’s Office of Native American Congregational Support.

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"Extending the Legacy"

African American mentoring event focuses on developing church leaders through effective mentoring relationships

“Some of us have been looking forward to this day for years,” the Rev. Dr. Rhashell D. Hunter told those gathered for the opening session of the African American Mentoring Event on April 21. “To identify and equip African American women and men who might serve in the future as heads of staff or in executive leadership has long been a dream for many of us.”                                

The African American Mentoring Event—the fourth leadership institute offered by the Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women (RE&WM/PW) ministry area of the Presbyterian Mission Agency—brought some 30 African American pastors and leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) together at Montreat Conference Center from April 21 to 24. Its purpose—in addition to identifying and developing teaching elders with strong potential for future leadership in the church—is also to support African American congregations by resourcing them with a pool of strong candidates to serve healthy congregations. Continue reading

Women’s Leadership Development

Following a brief overview of the mission and ministry of RE&WM/PW, this video shows the many faces of women’s leadership development and how the RE&WM/PW ministry area works to equip, empower and connect women leaders across the church.

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