Henderlite, Rachel (1905–1991)
Henderlite, Rachel (1905–1991)
American Presbyterian minister and theologian. Born Dec 30, 1905, in Henderson, North Carolina; died of a heart attack, Nov 6, 1991, in Austin, TX; dau. of Rev. James H. and Nelle (Crow) Henderlite; attended Mary Baldwin College; Agnes Scott College, BA, 1928; New York University, MA in Christian education, 1936; Yale University, PhD in Christian ethics, 1947.
The 1st woman to be ordained as Presbyterian minister in US, began career as a dean and professor of Bible at Mississippi Synodical College (1936–38), then Montreat College, near Black Mountain, NC (1938–41); studied ethics at Yale Divinity School under Niebuhr (1942–44); began 16-year professorship in applied Christianity and Christian nurture at Presbyterian School of Christian Education, a graduate program especially for women, in Richmond, VA; helped found Richmond's 1st predominantly black Presbyterian church; ordained as minister of All Souls Presbyterian Church in Richmond (1965), the 1st woman of her denomination to receive ordination; became 1st woman professor of Christian education at Austin Theological Seminary, TX (1966); served as 1st woman president of Presbyterian Council of Church Union (1977–82); writings include A Call to Faith (1955) and Paul, Christian and World Traveler (1957).