Professor Priscilla Pope-Levison receives Saddlebag Award for No Man’s Land

DALLAS (SMU) – Research Professor of Practical Theology Priscilla Pope-Levison at Perkins School of Theology at SMU has received the Saddlebag Award for her book, No Man’s Land: The International Methodist Deaconess Movement, 1874–1918.

The recognition follows the Smith/Wynkoop Book Award, which Pope-Levison received from the Wesleyan Theological Society seven months ago. 

No Man’s Land: The International Methodist Deaconess Movement, 1874–1918 examines the Methodist deaconess movement, drawing on archival sources and personal narratives to recover the lives and leadership of women who served communities across multiple continents. Through their stories, Pope-Levison expands the historical understanding of the deaconess movement and the role of women’s leadership in Methodism and Christianity more broadly.

“To see No Man’s Land receive a second major award is especially gratifying because it confirms the importance of Dr. Pope-Levison’s work in historical circles,” said Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean Bryan P. Stone. “The Saddlebag Award recognizes outstanding scholarship in United Methodist history. By recovering the stories of Methodist deaconesses who created new spaces for ministry and leadership around the world, she has helped us see possibilities for our own future with new eyes.”

Each year, the Historical Society of The United Methodist Church presents the Saddlebag Award to an outstanding book on United Methodist history or a related subject.

“We were unanimous in our opinion that it told a story that had not been told in an engaging way and offered great insights for the church today,” said Douglas D. Tzan, the Saddlebag selection award coordinator. 

“It is an incredible honor for this book to be recognized as an excellent contribution to the history of my own denomination,” said Pope-Levison. “I hope the Saddlebag Award will help to raise the profile in the denomination of Methodist deaconesses, past and present.”

The Saddlebag Award is given at the HSUMC Annual meeting and gathering with an official date and location to be shared at a later time.  

SMU Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.