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The hospital chaplain, a member at Congregational United Church of Christ, told her pastor about a young cancer patient from Sudan who needed a bone marrow transplant.

Her only donor was her brother, still in Sudan. She had no money. And the diplomatic requirements to get her brother out of Sudan and into the United States seemed insurmountable.

The Rev. Julie Peeples volunteered to hold a benefit at the church — but ended up affecting every step along the more-than-yearlong process, from getting the brother into the country to helping raise the thousands of dollars to return Alice Lawrence’s body to her family for burial.

There was even enough money to pay for her brother’s college education back in Sudan, recalls Terry Moore-Painter, the lead chaplain at Wesley Long Hospital and the Regional Cancer Center with the Moses Cone Health System.

Peeples’ dedication to the young Sudanese woman and her family was mentioned last week as she claimed one of her denomination’s highest honors, the Antoinette Brown Award, during the meeting of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ in Grand Rapids, Mich. The award honors the first woman ordained in the United States.

“It’s rather humbling because I got to meet some of the past winners, who are people I’ve admired for a long time — it’s strange to be meeting some of my heroes in that way,” Peeples, 51, said days after the ceremony.

Peeples, who has spent the past 18 years in ministry at her church, is also well-known in the community.

“She is a strong advocate and leader — by voice and by example,” said the Rev. Ken Massey, the pastor of First Baptist Church who has worked alongside Peeples on local interfaith issues, particularly after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I’m sure that she is a wonderful pastor to her congregation, but she is also a pastor to our city and county,” Massey said. “If there are bridges to be built, she’s bringing the steel. If there are injuries to be healed, she’s bringing the balm. If there is a better future to be grasped, her hands are wide open.”

Peeples has the courage to say the things that others want to say but can’t, for fear of losing their jobs or their church.

“Over the many years that I have been working with clergy from many different traditions, I have rarely encountered anyone as dedicated and caring as Julie Peeples,” said the Rev. Mark Sills of FaithAction International House, who is working with Peeples on abuses often heaped on undocumented immigrants. “Whenever there is a prophetic voice needed in Greensboro, Julie has the right words and the courage to speak them.”

Peeples, who was raised Catholic in Charleston, S.C., felt the call into the ministry by high school. She thought the Catholic church would one day ordain women. While majoring in music at Furman University, she encountered the Protestant doctrine of “priesthood of all believers” and later enrolled at Andover-Newton Theological School, which put her on the path of ministry through the United Church of Christ.

After seminary, her eyes were opened to the best and worst of ministry, including the years she and her husband Paul Davis provided pastoral care for a staff of about 300 at the Habitat for Humanity headquarters in Americus, Ga. It was their dream job, she said.

But the couple began hearing complaints that an official was making suggestive remarks and inappropriately touching female staffers. Peeples and Davis alerted the board of directors, and the man was moved to another office with minimal staff. Peeples and her husband were later let go in what they were told was a cost-cutting measure.

Peeples came to Greensboro that same year and quickly got involved in her community.

When a newborn was found in a Dumpster in 1998, Peeples helped to organize a community funeral. In her eulogy, she lovingly spoke over the tiny casket: “God knows your name, little one. You will always be remembered among us as one who evoked great love and passion.”

She did not wait to be asked to get involved.

“The rabbinical sages said that the existence of the world depends upon 36 righteous people,” said Rabbi Fred Guttman, who traveled with Peeples on an interfaith clergy trip to Israel in December. “If we were apply this to Greensboro, then Rev. Julie Peeples is one of the 36 righteous people upon whom this city depends.”

Peeples also has led her congregation in a study of human sexuality and dialogue that has earned Congregational UCC a reputation as open to people of all orientations.

When another local church “discovered that a men’s chorus that was to give a concert in their sanctuary was made up of gay men, they pulled the plug on them. Julie immediately asked for and immediately received permission to invite them to our church,” said Irwin Smallwood, a leader at her church who nominated her for the award.

Peeples, who has gotten nasty anonymous letters from people in the community each time she takes what others consider a controversial stand, says she is thankful to have a church that wants her to be involved in the community. She also works hard at what she feels she should get involved in.

“I really do try and discern, 'Where would Jesus be in all of this?’” Peeples said. “Who are the people he really sought to be with — and often those were not the acceptable, popular people. We are not called into the ministry to be popular. We’re supposed to ask where would Jesus have us to be.”

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com