Sheron C. Patterson
Rev. Dr. Sheron Covington Patterson is married to banker Robert Patterson and is the mother of two sons. She has served as pastor at a United Methodist Church in Duncanville Texas, and sat on the board for Planned Parenthood of North Texas.
Contents
Personal Life
In 2006 Patterson was diagnosed with breast cancer. After she recovered from the cancer Dr. Patterson began a program to encourage women to take control of their health through the Methodist Healthcare System.[1]
Education
Patterson has two master's degrees in theology, and a doctorate in ministry, all from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.[1]
Planned Parenthood
Received 1998 Award
Sheron C. Patterson received the 1998 Katherine Ripley Award from Planned Parenthood of Dallas and Northeast Texas for her work with her church's "Love Clinic."[2]
Planned Parenthood of North Texas
From 1999 - 2000, and also as at 2001, Sheron Patterson served on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood of North Texas.[3][4]
United Methodist Church
Jubilee Methodist Church
Sheron Patterson has worked as senior pastor of the Jubilee Methodist Church in Duncanville, TX, from 1995 until at least 2001. She is no longer the pastor at this church. Jubilee Methodist Church is a member of the United Methodist Church which actively supports legal abortion.[4]
The Winter, 2001 edition of Clergy Voices, a publication of Planned Parenthood reported,[4]
- "At her church, Rev. Patterson does something that too many clergy fear to do, and too many religious institutions find difficult to support. She talks about sexuality and reproductive health. Shortly after arriving at the church, Rev. Patterson, in response to the problems she observed in the community and together with her congregation, launched the "Love Clinic" to foster healthy relationships between adult Christian men and women...
- ...The Love Clinic recently added summer programs for young people between the ages of eight and 18. The weeklong Christian teen camps discuss healthy dating, self-esteem, responsible sexuality, and communication skills. Participants are encouraged to remain abstinent, but they also learn about contraception. Pre-teens cover much of the same material in programs appropriate for them. "It's not a sin to inform a youngster about his or her body. The sin is keeping them ignorant," Rev. Patterson says.
- It was the Love Clinic that brought Rev. Patterson to PPNT. In 1998, the Love Clinic invited Dr. Henry Foster to Dallas to speak about solutions to the shockingly high rates of teen pregnancy in Texas and in the nation. To help ensure a large turnout at a luncheon for community leaders and clergy from all over the city, Rev. Patterson called on Kathryn Allen, now senior vice president for public affairs at PPNT. The following January, PPNT presented Rev. Patterson an award for her work in education. Shortly thereafter, she was asked to join the board where her major concerns are teen pregnancy and women's health. She also serves on the advisory committee of PPNT Clergy for Responsible Choices."
Highland Hills UMC
As at Aug. 2008, Patterson served as senior pastor of Highland Hills UMC, Dallas.[1] She is no longer the pastor at this church.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 North Texas UMC: Two NTC clergy receive 'Elite' Award, Aug. 3, 2008 (accessed on Sep. 14, 2012)
- ↑ The Flyer, Vol. XIX No. 1, Winter 1999 - a publication of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in the United Methodist Church (accessed on Sep. 14, 2012)
- ↑ PPNT Fall 1999 Newsletter Volume 15, Issue 4
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Spotlight On Affiliate Clergy, Clergy Voices, Winter 2001 (accessed on Sep. 14, 2012)
