In recognition and observance of Women’s History Month, A.D. Bruce Religion Center and the Campus Ministries Association at the University of Houston would like to acknowledge the following Women Worship Leaders.

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28, which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9, which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

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  The Rev. Luz Cabrera Montes

  Luz Cabrera Montes is an ordained deacon in the Diocese of Texas. She started her curacy at Trinity Episcopal Church, July 1, 2020. Before studying to become an Episcopal priest, Luz earned a bachelor of science degree in bilingual education at the University of Houston and taught for five years in the Houston Independent School District. She then attended and earned her masters degree in divinity at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. During her time in Houston, she was a lay minister and a youth director at Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo for a total of over ten years. Luz serves the church in other capacities such as a member of the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons and is on the Task Force to Coordinate Ecumenical & Interreligious Work. She is also a Youth Ministry Liason for The Episcopal Church Office of Youth Ministries. Luz is married to Thanh Montes and they have two dogs, Luna and Coogie.

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  Reverend Dr. Renita J. Weems

  In addition to being one of our co-pastors Rev. Renita, as she is known at The Ray, is a distinguished biblical scholar, author, academic administrator, public intellectual, and ordained elder in the African American Episcopal Church (1984). Her esteemed and insightful publications, commentaries, and articles on modern faith, race and religion, womanism and social movements, make her a widely sought-after inspirational speaker and academic lecturer. Rev. Weems was the first African American woman to give Yale University's prestigious Beecher lectures (2008).

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  Safiya Ravat

  Safiya Ravat is a proud UH Alumnus and past UHMSA officer. She graduated in 2011 with a degree in Journalism, wrote for the Daily Cougar, and went on to write for the Houston Chronicle. Safiya now serves as the Female Religious Director at Maryam Islamic Center and the Co-Director of Suhbah Institute where she leads the Suhbah Arabic and Islamic Seminary with her husband, Mahad Qamar. She attained a degree in Fiqh and Usul ul Fiqh (Islamic Law and Jurisprudence) from the International Islamic University of Malaysia and is currently pursuing a Master's in Pastoral Counseling in Marriage and Family Therapy. She and her husband conduct pre-marital training, singles marriage prep courses, and singles events for those looking to get married. Safiya speaks at UHMSA events throughout the year, regarding gender relationships in Islam, women empowerment, and much more.

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  Dr. Sandra Montes

  Montes had been serving as Interim Dean since August 2019, and is credited with the successful and seamless move of chapel online due to COVID. A bilingual educator, musician, liturgist and writer who previously worked with The Episcopal Church, Montes’ experience in leading worship and her ability to successfully build relationships helped her gain the respect and appreciation of students and faculty alike. “Dr. Montes’ warmth and congeniality are just a few of her many talents (her singing being another one!), and I was thrilled that she was interested in staying on with us permanently. I’m looking forward to how she will further expand our chapel program,” said President Jones. “Experiencing worship led by Dr. Montes is a joy! And she is a wonderful mentor to students. Her commitment to social justice and equality, and how she always keeps that centered in her work, makes it clear how closely she is in alignment with our mission,” said the Rev. Pamela Cooper-White, Ph.D., Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who led the search committee. Montes, an indigenous Latina (born in Peru and raised in Guatemala), holds an Ed.D. from the University of Houston and her book, Becoming REAL and Thriving in Ministry, was published in May 2020.

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  Susan Tish CS

  Throughout her life, Susan Tish CS has studied and actively practiced Christian Science, a Christian religion founded in the 19th century by Mary Baker Eddy. The foundational textbooks for Susan's spiritual study are the Bible and a companion book to the Bible, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptureswritten by Mary Baker Eddy, which deeply explores the healing example found in the life and works of Christ Jesus and also serves as the textbook of Christian Science.

  For the past 15 years Susan has worked to help individuals experience peace, hope, and healing as a Christian Science practitioner and a writer on the subject of spirituality and health. Her practice is located in Northville, MI, but she works with patients from all over the world who are seeking practical solutions to life's challenges through this prayer-based, Christian healing methodology. She is a regular contributor to the Daily Lift inspirational podcast series and to The Christian Science Monitor's religious column.

  Susan has written an article about Mary Baker Eddy and the "courageous example of her paradigm-breaking life, redefining what a woman could be."

  Read her article of the annotated chronology and introduction to the life experiences of Mary Baker Eddy, discoverer and founder of Christian Science's life, and the "courageous example of her paradigm-breaking life, redefining what a woman could be," here provided by the Mary Baker Eddy Library.

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  Rev. Terri Hord Owens

  Rev. Terri Hord Owens is an ordained minister of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Owens was elected General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. She is the first woman of color to lead a mainline Christian denomination in North America. Owens received her Bachelors from Harvard University and the University of Chicago Divinity School where she served as Dean.

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  Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk

  For nearly 50 years, the Reverend Yvonne V. Delk, has been a strong ally in the fight for human and civil rights for people of color, children and the poor. She has served as teacher, educator, preacher, executive, organizer and author in the United States and in the wider global community. In 1974, Rev. Del became the first African American woman to be ordained as clergy in the United Church of Christ (UCC).