09112
February 17, 2009
Johnnie Monroe receives PHEWA’s John Park Lee Award
Urban social justice advocate to be honored at Big Tent
The Rev. Johnnie Monroe. Photo by Pam Panchak, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. LOUISVILLE ― The Rev. Johnnie Monroe, a Presbyterian pastor who has tirelessly advocated for social justice in urban communities during his 42-years of ministry, has been named winner of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association’s (PHEWA) 2009 John Park Lee Award.
Monroe, pastor emeritus of Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, will be honored at a PHEWA- hosted dinner June 12 during the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Big Tent event.
“Johnnie was selected because of his life-long commitment to social justice advocacy work for the least of these,” said PHWWA Executive Director the Rev. Nancy Troy, “and for his service to the church, and to the broader communities that he has served so faithfully.”
Monroe has preached to, baptized, and nurtured thousands of people in congregations as well as being a “public pastor” to many outside the congregations he has served. Grace Memorial is frequently called “the mother congregation” among Black Presbyterian churches in Pittsburgh.
Monroe called the announcement of the award “a pleasant surprise. We don’t do this ministry to be noticed but anytime someone honors the work you’ve done it’s a good feeling.”
In addition to his ministry Monroe’s civic leadership has been broadly recognized and affirmed. He has served as president of the Chester (PA) branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), president of the Chester Ministerial Alliance and president of the board of directors of Delaware County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of America, a job training and placement resource for the unemployed and under-employed.
In honor of his diligent work in establishing a fire station for his Chester community, the station was named the Rev. Dr. Johnnie Monroe Fire Station in 1995.
He has provided leadership to a variety of church-based community programs for people of all ages and was a founding member Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Metro Urban Institute Advisory Board. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member of the seminary.
“I still see our urban communities as a beacon of hope for society,” Monroe said, “and an opportunity for evangelistic ministry in the name of Jesus Christ through social justice advocacy.”
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