From the Pulpit: Celebrating 50 years of Women’s Ordination

Bishop Mary Glasspool said there are key lessons to be learned from the brave women who challenged The Episcopal Church for ordination 50 years ago — and still work to be done.

Bishop Glasspool, the assistant bishop of New York and the first openly gay female bishop in the church, led an all-female altar party (the first in institutional memory) to mark the historic ordinations 50 years ago today that broke the stained glass ceiling for women in the church.

From her sermon:

“While it’s wonderful that we are all here commemorating and celebrating, this is not the end of the story and we have work to do. There are still barriers in this world which unjustly separate people they need to come down. There is much brokenness in this world that needs healing, and there is so much despair in our world that needs to be countered with words and deeds of genuine hope.

My friends … take courage in speaking truth to power, and know that God is invested in that which gives life. … Know that in God’s world, the binary distinctions that imprison us will be coming down so that everyone can live life in its fullness from the women at the empty tomb. Take courage in working within our own traditions, remembering Jesus’ words, and don’t simply let others take it from here. 

And from the Philadelphia 11, learn that when we take action — whether it be to break down barriers, build bridges, confront injustice, heal brokenness, kindle love, stoke hope or flame the fire of our faith — do it publicly for everyone to see. Stay in tune with the kairos, God’s time. Do it together, not in isolation, and don’t let anyone steal your own tradition.

All of which is to say, come labor on in the name of our loving God.”