Pamela Y. CookWomen’s History and Experience in the Christian TraditionNovember 12, 2012

1853 1st woman ordained1925 1st Pacific Island woman ordained –

Rev. Mother Alice Rosehill Kahokuoluna 1956 4 women ordained in Afro Christian

Connection1972 1st Latina ordained –

Rev. Candita Bauzá-Mattos 1974 1st African American woman ordained -

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk

Rev. Mother Alice Rosehill Kahokuoluna

• 1923 - licensed to preach & assigned to Wananalua Congregational Church, East Maui.

• March 21, 1925 – ordained• Was known for wearing

habit & riding horse to her parishes

1956 - Prior to merger into United Church of Christ 4 women ordained in Afro Christian Connection

Rev. Candita Bauzá-Mattos• 1st woman to graduate

from Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico

• Associate Conference Minister, Southern California-Nevada Conference

• Served as Minister for Hispanic Relations in the national setting

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk• 1963-graduated from

Andover Newton Seminary1981-1st African American woman to head a national instrumentality in the UCC, The Office for Church in Society

Yvonne Delk continued

1989-1st Woman to be nominated as a candidate for the Office of President of the UCC1990- 1st Woman and First African-American Executive Director of the Community Renewal Society in Chicago

Rosemary McCombs MaxeyBorn April 3, 1945Muscogee1987-1999 Pastor, Mt. Tabor UCC, Rocky Ridge, MDInterim Pastor, Community of Hope UCC, Tulsa, OKDirector of the Eagle Butte Learning Center

www.ucc.org/women/assets/maxey.mp3

1975 – Dr. Thanda Ngcobo ordained to ministry in Zulu at Trinity UCC, Chicago1975 – Rev. Barbara J. Allen is commissioned Director of Christian Education at Trinity UCC, ChicagoFrom approx. 1980-2000, Rev. Allen serves as executive minister but is refused ordination by the UCC.

1994-96 - Rev. Dr. Susan Newman installed as Senior Pastor of 1st Congregational UCC, Atlanta1976-Licensed Baptist1983-Ordained & Assoc. Minister People’s Congregational UCC, Washington, DC

Rev. Dr. Susan Newman continued

Former Director of Public Policy at RCRC2009-present Associate Minister for Congregational Life & Social Justice at All Souls Church, Washington, DCAlso currently Assoc.

Minister at CovenantBaptist UCC• Author of several books

1986 – Pamela June Anderson installed as Associate Minister at Plymouth UCC-Detroit. 1989 – Senior Pastor of Mayflower UCC, DetroitAssociate Assn Minister, Western Reserve Assn, Ohio ConferenceInterim Pastor, Faith UCC, Dayton, OH

Interim Pastor, 1st United Christian Church, Xenia, OH2001-2011 - Pastor, Countryside Community Church, Esparto, CAPrimary Guest Chaplain, California SenateLt. Commnader in the Navy; served as a Military Chaplain for 24 yearsAuthor of several books inc. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Don’t WorkMentee of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.Born February 28, 1958Died September 8, 2011 in Esparto, CA

• Author of 4 books• 2011 General Synod

Keynote Speaker• 2009 Keynote SpeakerMN Conf. Annual Meeting• Mentee of Rev. Dr.

Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr

1st African American Woman Ordained in the PCUSA

1974-Katie Geneva Cannon ordainedOne of 1st two women graduates of ITCProfessor, Temple UniversityProfessor, Union Theological Seminary, NYCProfessor, Union Presbyterian Seminary, VA

Katie Geneva Cannon continued

Ph.D., Ethics, Union Theological Seminary1st scholar to use “womanist”1st generation womanist scholarAuthor of several booksGreat granddaughter of Mary Nance Lytle b. 1832

1st African American Woman Ordained in the Episcopal Church1977-Pauli

Murray ordained

1st Woman Ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion)

Ordination of black female pastors began with the AME Zion church 1895-Mary Small ordained as deacon1895-Mary Small ordained as deaconUnordained positions such as "deaconess" predominated in other Methodist denominations.

Early Women AME Pastors

1889-Harriett A. Baker (1829-1913)appointed pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Lebannon, PA & becomes 1st known female pastor in AME denomination.Baker was a licensed evangelist, not sure whether she was ever ordained1900-Baker built & established Bethel Mission in Allentown, PA1882-Margaret Wilson appointed pastor of Haleyville Mission, oversaw purchase of land & bldg; no pastoral appointment after 1885

Findings

Obstacles to Women’s Ordination 1. Denominational policy2. Requirements for ordination

necessity of call to particular types of ministry

college & seminary education without regard to experience

committees on ministry3. Congregational Polity

racism in white churchessexism in black churches

4. Personal Imagination/Vision

Findings of Barbara Brown Zikmund

More women going to seminary but many do not seek church employmentWomen who pursue church employment leave sooner than menChurch can still be unwelcoming to women’s leadershipPattern of institutional discrimination that limits womenSeminary trained women unemployed and underemployedWomen have deep & abiding commitment to ministry

Brown’s Findings continued

Openness varies by polity: Congregation-centered, Institution-centered, & Spirit-centered denominations35% of men have solo pastorate as 1st call35% of women are associates/assistants on 1st callOn 3rd call, 49% of men are head of staff/sr. pastorOn 3rd call, 19% of women are head of staff/sr. pastorJourney still uphill