Presbyterian Church Has Named 2026-27 Cannon Scholars

The church selected Moria McClain and Miriam Bentley to honor the legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold vector editorial illustration of two open leather-bound books and a dogwood flower, representing academic scholarship in theology. — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) awarded the 2026-27 Katie Geneva Cannon Scholarship to Moria McClain and Miriam Bentley to support their ministerial leadership. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has named Moria McClain and Miriam Bentley as the recipients of the 2026-27 Katie Geneva Cannon Scholarship. This annual program supports women pursuing leadership and ministry opportunities within the church.

Why it matters

The scholarship honors the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, who broke significant barriers in 1974 by becoming the first African American woman ordained in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. It provides essential financial investment for women advancing their theological education and ministry outreach.

Selected scholars receive $3,500 or $3,000 in direct awards, with an additional $1,500 available for ministry-related continuing education. The program selects exactly one seminarian and one undergraduate annually.

The players

Moria McClain

She is a seminarian at Princeton Theological Seminary currently pursuing dual master's degrees.

Miriam Bentley

She is a junior at Morgan State University and an active participant in ministry outreach.

Katie Geneva Cannon

She was a pioneering theologian who became the first African American woman ordained in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

The details

Moria McClain, a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, plans to complete a dual Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation. Miriam Bentley, a junior at Morgan State University, intends to use the opportunity to offer free piano lessons for children at Fellowship Presbyterian Church.

1974 marked the ordination of the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon as the first Black woman in the UPCUSA.
1983 was the year Dr. Cannon earned her Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary.
2020 saw the Rev. Gregory Bentley serve as General Assembly Moderator.
2026-27 represents the academic year for the current scholarship recipients.

Culture Shift

This scholarship program continues the long-term effort to increase diversity within church leadership by supporting the next generation of female ministers. It builds directly upon the institutional path paved by the 1974 ordination of the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon.

Recipients use these funds to offset the high costs of theological seminary and undergraduate tuition. For the community, the program facilitates local ministry initiatives, such as providing free music education for children.

The takeaway

The Presbyterian Church scholarship highlights the continued importance of financial support for students pursuing theological vocations. Readers can look for similar mission-based grants if they are involved in community-focused leadership and ministry.