Advocates of Women's Ordination Muster Momentum
Diocesan Press Service. January 27, 1975 [75030]
Erwin M. Soukup
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The newly-formed Policy Board of the National Coalition for Women's Ordination to the Priesthood and the Episcopate convened in Chicago January 17-18 to map strategy, develop plans, and enlist support for canonical changes to permit the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church during the General Convention at Minneapolis in 1976. The Policy Board, seeing "the Church perilously close to schism if the issue of women's ordination is not dealt with justly, promptly and forthrightly, " elected permanent officers, adopted a statement of purpose and designed a structure of organization in order to carry out the work.
Chosen as chairperson was the Rev. George F. Regas (Pasadena, CA). Selected co-chairperson was the Rev. Patricia Merchant Park (Alexandria, VA), who convened the Chicago policy-setting session. Also named were Ms. Janice Duncan (Bala Cynwyd, PA) as Extra-Board Public Relations Person and Sister Columba Gilliss, O.S.H. (New York, NY) as Intra-Board Communications Person.
The Policy Board is the sequential outgrowth of the Dayton Organizing Conference* of last October which attracted, according to the Board's count, some 130 persons from 52 dioceses of the Church. The Dayton meeting proposed three goals: changes in the canons to permit future ordination of women, a program to produce a favorable climate in the Church to this end, and to study the matter of immediate ordinations.
The Chicago meeting of the Policy Board, admitting some differences of opinion among the membership, adopted the following statement:
"The primary task of the Board is to organize and coordinate a national effort for a change in the canons of the Episcopal Church at the Minnesota General Convention of 1976 which would allow the ordination of women as priests and bishops. Canonical change would facilitate the regularization of the Philadelphia ordinations, the ordination of other women to the priesthood and encourage full lay ministries for women in the Episcopal Church.
"The Board intends to coordinate a massive campaign over the next 18 months to secure a positive action for women priests at the Minnesota Convention, for the Board sees the Church perilously close to schism if the issue of women's ordination is not dealt with justly, promptly and forthrightly.
"The Board represents wide diversity of opinions and theological commitments, but is united toward achieving a canonical change at the Minnesota Convention. To accomplish this goal, the Board will establish five working task forces for education, promotion, political organization of deputies, regional development and organization in all nine provinces, and funding. "
Much of the "diversity of opinion and theological commitment" centered on the strategy involved in promoting the cause of ordinations of women. George Guernsey, III (St. Louis, MO), a member of the Executive Council, in referring to the Philadelphia ordinations, said, "You have taken pot-shots at your closest friends, those who have most strongly supported your cause. But you have given the Bishops of New York and Ohio considerable anguish and embarrassment." The Rev. Robert M. Cooper (Nashotah, WI), assistant professor of ethics and moral theology at Nashotah House, noted that he repudiated the Philadelphia ordinations as divisive, but he added he "would like to see women priests, but I'd like to see compelling theological reasons for it. "
The Rev. Henry H. Rightor (Alexandria, VA), professor of Christian education and pastoral theology at Virginia Theological Seminary, said in the course of the discussion, "My membership in this group does not imply I disapprove of the Philadelphia ordinations. " Three tactics must be employed, he added: "Before Minnesota, canonical change at Minnesota, and after Minnesota." He might, he said, "...decide to do things upon which this group might not have consensus." The Rev. Carter Heyward (New York, N.Y.), one of the 11 women deacons in the Philadelphia ordinations, said she could not remain a member of the Board in order to follow the actions of her conscience. Although it was generally agreed that the widest and most inclusive support must be sought, it was also recognized by the Board that each person should be allowed the personal integrity to pursue his or her own course.
In another view, the Rev. Frances G. Zielinski (Evanston, IL), director of the National Center for the Diaconate, said, "The ordination of women to the priesthood is not the solution to the role of the ministry of women in the Church. "
The organizational structure, as adopted by the Policy Board, would include the Board, composed of approximately twenty members, broken into the five task forces supervising the areas named in the statement of purpose. The Board would oversee the work of the nine regions (provinces) which would be coordinated by paid local organizers. It was estimated by the Policy Board that the sum of $50,000 would be needed to fund the efforts of the Board during the period prior to the Minnesota Convention. Oscar C. Carr (New York, NY), Executive for Development/Stewardship on the Executive Council staff, noted that it was necessary to "merchandise and package the educational and promotional resources and recruit sellers " to reach the bishops, deputies and people of the Church.
One member of the Board voiced a caveat, saying that the issue of the ordination of women may not be divinely given; it may be an issue of human psychology. It may be right to ordain women, he concluded, but it may be an expedient for those concerned. The Board generally recognized that canonical change may not solve the problem completely, since the change of canon merely removed a road block. Even if permitted, it was observed, some dioceses, some bishops and some Standing Committees will still not ordain women nor permit them to function as priests within their jurisdictions.
Those who constitute the membership of the Policy are the Rev. Hunsdon Cary, Jr. (Palm Beach, FL); Oscar C. Carr, Jr. (New York, NY); the Rev. William R. Coats (Milwaukee, WI); the Rev. Robert M. Cooper (Nashotah, WI); Ms. Janice Duncan (Bala Cynwyd, PA) ; Sister Columba Gilliss, O.S.H. (New York, NY); Mrs. Marge Gross (Yankton, SD); George Guernsey, III (St. Louis, MO); Mrs. Charles M. Guilbert (New York, NY); Mrs. Marion Kelleran (Alexandria, VA); Mrs. Marjorie Nichols (Winchester, MA); the Rev. Patricia Merchant Park (Alexandria, VA); the Rev. George F. Regas (Pasadena, CA); the Rev. Henry Rightor (Alexandria, VA); the Rt. Rev. Bennett J. Sims (Atlanta, GA); the Rt. Rev. Richard M. Trelease, Jr. (Albuquerque, NM); the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker (Washington, D.C.); the Rev. R. Stewart Wood, Jr. (Indianapolis, IN); and the Rev. Frances G. Zielinski (Evanston, IL). One other bishop and a seminary dean have been asked to join the Board but have not given a response.
The next meeting of the Policy Board has been set for May 8-9 in St. Louis, MO, where a banquet and guest speakers are anticipated.