50 Years of Women’s Ordination: The Rev. Canon Rosemarie Duncan

When 11 brave women put themselves forward for ordination 50 years ago, a young Rose Duncan remembers asking the rector at her parish in D.C. how he would address a female priest. His reply: "I don't."

A lot has changed since then, Rose said, especially with growing numbers of female bishops. Even so, the “cardinal” parishes with more resources and large memberships continue to be led by men, and sometimes people still aren’t sure what to make of a woman in a collar.

• READ MORE: Celebrating 50 Years of Women’s Ordination

She recalled meeting a foreign delegation of dignitaries here at the Cathedral, who said they were ready to meet “the canon.” A verger introduced Rose as the person they were waiting for, and a member of the delegation said, “No, no, we’re here to meet the canon who’s in charge of worship.” The verger responded, “Here she is,” and Rose was met with a look of confusion and befuddlement. “Here I am,” she said.

“It’s still unexpected for some people,” said Rose, who serves as Canon for Worship and oversees the Cathedral’s liturgical life.

Still, she said, she’s grateful for the women who stepped out in faith to challenge the church to recognize their God-given calls to ordination:

“I remember coming to the Cathedral, probably in 1981, for perhaps the first Acolyte Festival, and suddenly seeing women who were priests. It was fascinating, and I was just enamored of the idea that we had these women who were representing my church.

I would want to thank them, to thank them for their bravery, for their steadfastness and faithfulness during a time when so much of their call was dismissed by the church.

And I would want to thank them for opening the door for the rest of us to come. I’m proud to stand on those shoulders, but realize the responsibility that goes with that..”