Some History

Today was an interesting sermon. 3 women pastor's giving us the 50 yr. anniv of our denomination's Conference that put forth the vote about ordaining women. 1956 after a petition of one million women was presented and speeches given, the vote was 389 for and 297 against.

Our present pastor, a woman, served our church 1977-79 and returned in 2004. Rev. Bain served our church as assistant 1994-2001 and retired, Rev. Symons served our church 1979-1981 and is now a Chaplain at the Methodist Mission Home.

It was interesting to hear some short snippets of the pro and cons. The Litany of Celebration and Thanksgiving was also interesting. It started with thanks for Susanna Wesley, who held prayer services that nurtured the faith of nearly 300 people despite complaints by the curator of the church that such activity was improper for women.

For her son John Wesley, who appointed women in leadership roles in the early Methodist societies and who also supported the right of women to preach the gospel.

For the church of the United Brethren in Christ, the first denomination in the Methodist family to give women the right to preach in 1847 and 1853.

For the Methodist Protestant Church, which began ordaining women in the late 1800's.

For Jarena Lee, who in the early 1800's became the first African Methodist Episcopal woman to be allowed to respond to her call to preach under the support of her bishop, Richard Allen.

For Helenor Alter Davisson who in 1866 became the first woman to be ordained in the Methodist Protestant Church.

For the decision of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1920 that gave women the right to be granted a license to preach.

In 1924 General Conference they granted women the right to be ordained as local deacons and local elders.

Then in 1956 the General Conference gave women full clergy rights, entitling them to have a voice and vote at annual conference equal to their male colleagues and granting clergywomen a guranteed appointment.

I'd say a long hard fought battle.