In 1975, the United Church of Christ honored two clergywomen with the first Antoinette Brown Award, celebrating the life and ministry of the first woman ordained into Christian ministry since biblical times as well as the lives and ministries of UCC clergywomen who exemplify Brown’s spirit of trailblazing leadership in church and society.

Nearly fifty years later, the pathways, thankfully, are considerably widened for women in ministry in the UCC. And there continues to be a call to lift up pioneers and innovators in our midst, women who lead in extraordinary ways and who make possible other women’s ministries. From now until March 15, 2021, we invite your nominations of trailblazers (UCC clergywomen who honor Antoinette Brown’s vision of women in leadership in church and society) as well as catalysts (collectives, projects, congregations, or organizations that serve as provocative spaces that advance women in ministry) below. Honorees will be celebrated at our online General Synod 33 in July 2021. The nomination form is available HERE; completed nominations can be sent to Rev Tara Barber at barbert@ucc.org by March 15, 2021.

We will be celebrating the wisdom of our 2019 Antoinette Brown awardees at an upcoming Thursdays for the Soul webinar. We are delighted to be presenting on Antoinette Brown’s birthday, May 20, at 3:30pm eastern on the topic of “Bold Vision: Leadership in Challenging Contexts”. Join us in honoring these clergywomen with a donation to the Antoinette Brown Society fund, whose proceeds support excellence in leadership.