The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Order of Diaconal Ministries and the Women’s Missionary Society established an award to recognize the work of women within The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
The Presbyterian Woman of Faith Awards are given to women who are part of The Presbyterian Church in Canada who should be honoured either for faithful service, a specific accomplishment, or a lifetime of achievement.
The recipients of this award will be recognized at a banquet at the National Presbyterian Women’s Gathering on Sunday May 17, 2020.
Only individuals who are nominated are considered for the award. A nomination form must be completed by a court or organization of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Any congregation, group, college, camp or court may nominate a woman. The Woman of Faith Awards Committee considers all submitted nominations and decides the award recipients.
One of the purposes of the Woman of Faith Awards is to create an environment within The Presbyterian Church in Canada where the stories of women in ministry can be shared and celebrated. With that in mind, we encourage all nominators to share the profile that is written with the woman who has been nominated and to celebrate her and her ministry in your group and/or congregation.
Faithful Service
For a woman who has dedicated her efforts to her local congregation and/or community.
Specific Accomplishment
For a woman whose envisioning and launching of a particular ministry or project has impacted her church and/or community.
Lifetime of Achievement
For a woman who has impacted the wider church through her legacy within congregations, committees, courts and ministries of the PCC, in Canada or internationally.
Presbyterian Woman of Faith Awards 2020 Recipients
The Presbyterian Woman of Faith Awards were established by The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Women’s Missionary Society and the Order of Diaconal Ministries to honour the courageous and faithful work of women within our church and to share individual stories of women in ministry. The 2020 Presbyterian Woman of Faith Awards has been presented to the following three women:
Faithful Service – Judith Chamberlain
Judith Chamberlain is a lifelong member of Guthrie Presbyterian Church in Melbourne, ON. Judith has served as an elder for over 30 years, served as the representative elder to presbytery, and leads the Christian Education Committee. She volunteers assisting adults with disabilities, providing programs, foot care and other services. Judith’s main passion has been ministering to children. Judith welcomes new families to the community and encourages the children to know Jesus. Leading Vacation Bible Camp, monthly kid’s programs and outreach services for families, Judith is the embodiment of the church for many children in the community. Young people may not know the minister, but they know Judith. Judith finds ways to help people in small, faithful ways over and over again. She lives her faith for all to see. Judith exemplifies the Christian values of loving others and thinking of others first. She acts as the hands and feet of Christ in Melbourne and is a true example of a faithful servant of God.
Specific Accomplishment – The Rev. Carol Hamilton
The Rev. Carol Hamilton is a part-time minister at Knox Presbyterian Church-Harrington and a registered nurse psychotherapist with her own practice in Stratford, ON. In 2006, Carol and her friend, Linda Willis, travelled to Malawi as part of a PWS&D study tour. Upon her return to Canada, Carol found it impossible to forget the faces and voices of the girls and women she had met. After four years of research and learning, Carol and Linda founded Change Her World, a Canadian charity focused on removing the barriers that hinder and prevent girls from attending school and being educated in the developing world. In 2020 Change Her World will celebrate their 10-year anniversary and recently reached a significant financial milestone of having raised one million dollars since its foundation. Carol’s depth of knowledge and skill in small business entrepreneurship and her expertise in the healthcare field have contributed to the success of this charity. Carol expresses her faith in everything that she does whether counselling clients, preaching on a Sunday morning, or working with volunteers in Canada and Malawi to operate Change Her World with integrity and transparency. Her faith is at the core of who she is and has enable her to impact the lives of many in significant ways. Carol is an example of how ordinary people can make a huge difference in a life that had no hope.
Lifetime of Achievement – Joan Smith
Joan Smith is a longtime member of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Port Hope, ON where has served for many years as an elder, Clerk of Session, President of Annie Purves WMS group, bible study leader, and Christian educator. For forty years she has served the WMS in various capacities on presbyterial, synodical and national council. Her love for the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) is great and demonstrated in all she has done. During her time as President of Peterborough Presbyterial, Joan initiated a mission conference called “Autumn Adventure” which ran for twelve years. Joan has shown leadership during times of transition and uncertainty, overseeing the change of Toronto-Kingston synodical to Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda (CNOB) synodical during her term as Synodical President, and working with the task force charged with reviewing the role of the WMS in the life and mission of the PCC. Joan has also been an advocate of justice through her promotion of the work of PWS&D and involvement with Truth and Reconciliation events across Canada as Council President. Joan’s faith has guided her all along her journey of life as a servant of the Lord. She has been dedicated and committed to her calling to serve God through her congregation and the WMS and is a true woman of faith.
For more information about the award please visit presbyterian.ca/WOFA.
Eligibility
The award is open to women who are part of The Presbyterian Church in Canada including the laity, elders, diaconal ministers, missionaries and clergy.
Past Recipients
For more information, contact Liz Brewer, Ministry and Church Vocations, 1-800-619-7301 ext. 248.