Council approved a resolution asking The Episcopal Church to add the name of Dean Artemisia Bowden to the Calendar of the Church Year. If the resolution is approved, the life and work of Dr. Bowden would be commemorated by all Episcopal churches on a particular day of the year.
The resolution came from the diocesan Historical Commission in an effort to raise up and recognize Dr. Bowden, the founder of St. Philip’s College in San Antonio.
The ministry of Dr. Bowden stretches back to 1902 when Bishop Steptoe Johnston brought her from North Carolina to take over the fledgling St. Philip’s School. The school had its roots in a sewing class for Black girls begun in 1897 that had been held in the rectory of St. Philip’s Church. Bowden oversaw the continual expansion of the school, seeking to develop and send forth, “true, God-fearing women, who are not ashamed of the truth and whose characters are spotless.”
By 1927, Bowden had succeeded in guiding the school to junior college status, and in 1942 St. Philip’s Junior College joined with San Antonio Junior College to constitute the San Antonio Union Junior College District, later renamed the Alamo Community College District.
Bowden devoted her entire life to serving God and assisting the Almighty in raising up worthy Christians. She anticipated success, never failure. “A person who has courage must be full of faith,” she said. “A goal is set for the purpose of achieving it.”
The diocesan resolution will come before the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church when it meets in Indianapolis in July 2012.
By Marjorie George
