ST. PAUL, MN (June 26, 2010) – The Association for Covenant Clergy Women presented three awards during the Covenant Ministerium business session.

The $300 Victoria Welter Book Scholarship was presented to North Park Theological Seminary student Hauna Ondrey. Among her accomplishments, Ondrey co-authored Finding Faith, Losing Faith with her former undergraduate professor, Scot McKnight.

The award is named to honor Welter, the first woman graduate of North Park Theological Seminary in 1901. At the time of her graduation, classmates voted against including her in the class photograph.

The $1,000 Phoebe Church Planter’s Grant was presented to Janine Simpson-Davis, pastor of The Bridge Covenant Church, a new congregation in Detroit. Simpson-Davis has been a guest to the White House on numerous occasions to discuss issues affecting the African American community. Her efforts have also been recognized in Christianity Today, World Magazine, Family News in Focus, and LifeNews.com.

The award is named in honor of Phoebe, who is mentioned in Romans 16 as the individual sent by the Apostle Paul to deliver his letter to the church in Rome.

The $500 Evelyn M.R. Johnson Leadership Award was presented to Ruth Hill, executive minister of the Department of Women Ministries. Since her tenure began in 1999, Hill has initiated and overseen projects that include Educate the Girls, Break the Chains, and Advocacy for Victims of Abuse. She is a former missionary to Congo. Hill and her husband, Brad, previously served 19 years as missionaries in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The award recognizes a female minister in the Covenant who has demonstrated excellence in ministry based on character, ministerial identity, contribution to the Covenant and faithfulness to call.

The accompanying photos include (from top) Ondrey, Simpson and Hill.