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Dayton Organizing Conference Held

Diocesan Press Service. November 4, 1974 [74305]

DAYTON, Ohio -- A resolution calling for the appropriate authorities to proceed quickly to regularize the July 29 ordination of 11 women to the Episcopal priesthood was among six resolutions passed during the Dayton (Ohio) Organizing Conference October 24 - 26.

The organizing conference, an ad hoc group called together by an initiating committee of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, affirmed in the same resolution their belief that the Philadelphia ordinations were valid.

The group of about 100 persons -- laity and clergy -- from 41 dioceses of the church also called upon the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to underwrite the legal expenses of the 11 women ordained at Philadelphia in order that justice be served and that the women may have adequate legal counsel and defense.

In a third resolution the conference called on every parish in the church, as a 1975 penitential discipline, to study the whole ministry of the church as it pertains to both men and women and invited the Presiding Bishop's endorsement of the plan and the communication of studies results to the whole church.

Unanimously, those present called on bishops who supported ordination of women at the recent meeting of the House of Bishops in Mexico to "interpret to the church the seriousness and importance of this issue in the hope and expectation that well-informed action may be taken on this matter at the next General Convention. " The wording of the Dayton conference's resolution on this matter was the same as in the resolution adopted by the bishops in Mexico by a 97 to 35 margin. Six bishops abstained from voting.

Also passed unanimously at the Dayton conference were resolutions expressing profound gratitude to the conference initiators, consultants and participants, and to the host Diocese of Southern Ohio, which endorsed the session through its Diocesan Council.

Participants heard from the Rt. Rev. John M. Krumm, bishop of Southern Ohio, during the first session of the three-day conference.

The bishop reported the outcome of the vote in Mexico and told of his input in the decision making process. Bishop Krumm and the Rt. Rev. William Creighton, bishop of the Diocese of Washington, submitted the resolution which ultimately was adopted in Mexico.

Work sessions during the Dayton conference were divided into three basic areas of concern:

1) Canonical or interpretive change at the 1976 General Convention in Minnesota affirming the ordination of women;

2) A changing of the climate within the church to one which is more supportive of the ministry of women, both lay and ordained;

3) Immediate ordinations.

As the session progressed it was agreed that a permanent organizational structure should be formulated and that a separate committee should plan financing and seek out contributions.

Representatives from the three goal area committees and the newly self-selected finance committee, on Saturday morning, chose a 12-person initiating committee.

That committee will, before January 1, 1975, establish a permanent steering committee to work on the issues brought before the Dayton conference and work on strategy now until the 1976 General Convention and thereafter.

Those present agreed that issues facing the women in the church today are too varied and the positions of supporters too diverse to set any limits on the permanent committee's involvement.

The Rev. Alice Mann of the St. Asaph's Church, Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and convener for the first two days' sessions, said that she felt there was a broad based character to the conference and that the sharing and building of trust among a very diverse group of people was "very significant."

She also thought it very significant that those present, for the most part, made up a relatively new group of people, a cross section of Episcopalians, and not just the usual supporters.

The most emotional moment of the three-day conference came when, on Friday afternoon, one of the subgroups suggested that some sort of Eucharist be designed with the celebrants being the two women present who participated in the Philadelphia Ordination Service.

In attendance were the Rev. Jeannette Piccard of the Diocese of Minnesota, representing the Episcopal Women's Caucus, and the Rev. Carter Heyward of the Diocese of New York, representing the 11 women priests.

A subcommittee was quickly organized -- two in favor of such a service, two opposed and two undecided.

The plan was abandoned early in the debate, however, when both Dr. Piccard and Ms. Heyward decided not to celebrate in Dayton because of commitments between the conference organizers and the Diocese of Southern Ohio.

Mrs. Ferrell (Dee) Beggs of Cincinnati, had informed the plenary session earlier that the conference was invited to meet in Southern Ohio and had both the endorsement of the Diocesan Council and the bishop but that the initiating committee had agreed not to include a Eucharist service -- with any of the 11 ordained women celebrating -- at the request of Bishop Krumm.

After the decision not to hold a Eucharist was announced a second emotional moment came when several participants stood to say how they felt about the decision.

One participant said tearfully that she very much had wanted to participate in a Eucharist in New York City on Sunday, October 27 but added she was unable to attend and wanted to share in that experience through a celebration in Dayton. Both Dr. Piccard and Ms. Heyward participated in the New York City Eucharistic service and were joined there by the Rev. Alison Cheek of the Diocese of Virginia.

The same woman still attempting to hold back her tears, said, "This shows remarkable restraint."

The question of whether or not to hold any type of celebration for the "Dayton community in conference " was resolved later when the group decided to have an "Agape " worship service at the close of the conference.

Named during the Dayton conference to serve on the initiating committee which will now plan the ongoing structure are:

Carol Hosler, Scranton, Pennsylvania, Diocese of Bethlehem, from the Commission on the Ordination of Women;

Nan Bumstead, Pelham, New York, Diocese of New York, Committee on the Ordination of Women ;

Sharon Pendorf, Parisippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, Diocese of Newark;

Edna Pittenger, Cleveland, Ohio, Diocese of Ohio;

The Rev. Joe Matthews, Middletown, New York, Diocese of New York, Committee on the Ordination of Women;

The Rev. Patricia Park, Alexandria, Virginia, Diocese of Virginia, Group of Concerned Persons in Province III;

Millicent Spargo, Randolph, Massachusetts, Diocese of Massachusetts, Episcopal Churchwomen;

Tim Blackmon, a seminarian;

The Rev. Frances Zeilinski, Evanston, Illinois, Diocese of Chicago, from the National Center for the Diaconate;

The Rev. William Coates, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Diocese of Milwaukee;

The Rev. Barbara Schlachter, Dobbs Ferry, New York, Diocese of New York;

and Janice Duncan, Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, Diocese of Pennsylvania.

The Rev. Alice Mann will serve on the new initiating committee as a transition member from the initiating committee for the Dayton Organizing Conference.