There are so many women who paved the way for those of us who continue to serve. Ministry then took great courage and thick skin and endurance and faith beyond understanding. These early women were mistreated, held back, rarely considered for parish calls, not seen as equal partners in ministry. Some of their lives were threatened. It was a hard time and yet they bravely made a way for us. Today is a day we remember them and give thanks for all that they did--those who have gone onto greater glory and those who still forge ahead.
I put on my collar today and joined this group. It was well worth coming off sabbatical for a short time. The longest ordained among us led us in prayer, and it was a delightful time to just be together. It was a time of thanksgiving and remembering. It was a privilege to be with this group. I was so starkly reminded of what an enormous privilege the gift of ordination is--what it was for these early women and what it is for me each day.