Anniversary of the "irregular" ordinations of women

"Philadelphia Eleven"

Back in 1988, I went through confirmation class with Mother Elizabeth.  Father Pete helped lead some of the classes too. There was nothing unusual about that in my mind. They had both been priests at my church for as long as I could remember. Therefore, I was shocked to learn that the Episcopal Church didn't allow women priests until the General Convention of 1976.

On July 29, 2014, we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first "irregularly" ordained female Episcopal priests. Irregular, because it was against church law.  

It also took until 2010 (34 years after the national church voted to allow women's ordination) for a woman to be ordained in the Diocese of Quincy (Illinois).  Now at least one woman has been ordained in every diocese.  

Less than two dozen women have been consecrated as bishops in the Episcopal Church.  The Church of England just voted to allow women bishops yesterday.