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Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño has been named recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Alumna Award by the Alumni/ae Council of Perkins School of Theology, ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University. The annual award recognizes one graduate of Perkins who has demonstrated effectiveness and integrity in service to the church, continuing support and involvement in the goals of Perkins School of Theology and SMU, distinguished service in the wider community, and exemplary character.

In 2004, Bishop Carcaño became the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church. Today, she is one of 69 active bishops leading the denomination worldwide. She currently serves as Bishop of the Phoenix Episcopal Area, of The United Methodist Church, and is the official spokesperson for the Council of Bishops on the issue of immigration. Bishop Carcaño received a Masters of Theology from Perkins in 1979.

Bishop Carcaño, a native of Edinburg, Texas, was ordained elder in the Rio Grande Annual Conference in 1979. In addition to serving as a pastor of local churches in Texas, Arizona, and California, in 1986 she became the first Hispanic woman to be appointed a United Methodist district superintendent. She also led the at Perkins School of Theology as director from 1996-2001.

The award was presented on Monday, February 7, 2011, during a banquet in Bishop Carcaño’s honor as part of Perkins’ Ministers Week. In remarks during the dinner, Rev. Jeannie Treviño-Teddlie, current Director of the Perkins Mexican-American Program, celebrated Bishop Carcaño’s leadership. Retired United Methodist Bishop John Wesley Hardt also paid tribute to Bishop Carcaño’s leadership from an early age as a youth representative to the General Board of Global Ministries, while offering thanks for the extensive United Methodist connections and associations that helped to form Bishop Carcaño and other leaders through the years.

Expanded Biography of Bishop Carcaño, from Awards Banquet

Video excerpts of Bishop Carcaño’s acceptance speech:

Excerpt from Introductory Remarks (1:00)
Excerpt from Words of Appreciation (:42)
Excerpt from Concluding Words and Challenge (:33)

YouTube Video of (13:20)