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COLUMBIA ? Prior to the August celebration of the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women in Chicago, 150 clergy women, 19 from the Baltimore-Washington Conference, attended the 2006 Women of Color Consultation.

The event was 'to celebrate 18 years of a bold initiative by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry to create a pool of trailblazing United Methodist women of color,' said the Rev. HiRho Park, a member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference who headed the effort. Park is director of the Nashville-based Continuing Formation for Ministry in the Division of Ordained Ministry for the Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

The goals of the program are to place women of color in faculty positions at all United Methodist seminaries; increase the number of women of color who teach, lecture, write and research at the Ph.D. level in all seminaries; encourage women of color to consider theological careers, as well as to offer support, networking and dialogue.

A highlight of the event was the premiere of the DVD, 'Following the Path: Women of Color Scholarship Program.' Park wrote a study gbwc_superusere for the film, which shares the stories of the Women of Color graduates who now hold key positions in seminaries and divinity schools around the world.