This year, the Church of Scotland celebrates the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination. Various events are dedicated to it, including a conference on the premises of the University of Edinburgh. The conference brought together ordained pastors of several generations, including some of the women who were among the first to be ordained, members of their families, supporters, as well as representatives of the churches of Scotland and England and of wider society. There were songs, life stories, reflections, and laughter.
On 22 May 1968, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland published a decision that women would be ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament on the same conditions as men are ordained. This historic decision opened up new possibilities and over the years has changed the face of the Church of Scotland. At present, 30% of the pastors serving in it are women.
Margaret Forrester (pictured below), an academic and pastor, one of six students of New College who in 1967 sent an open letter to the General Assembly urging it not to delay in deciding on the ordination of women, shared memories of the early days. In the 1960s, women who were called by God to serve in the church had few options. They could train as nurses or teachers and go into mission work. Even then, during her student years, Margaret felt a clear calling to become a pastor, even though it was not yet possible. Her story about the university group photograph brought smiles to the participants’ faces. The lads who were studying theology stood all on one side at that time, while the girls, who were not yet permitted to do so, stood on the other. While the photographer was preparing for the shot, the taller lads at the back of the group had hidden Margaret behind their backs, and at the moment when the photographer placed the dark cloth over his head, they lifted the girl up. When the photograph was developed, nothing more could be done, and so the first photograph with a girl among the future pastors had come into being. Likewise in life, we now and then need people who accept us and lift us up, especially when it happens for the first time. And sometimes it happens much more than we expect. Margaret, together with other students, tried to get the Church of Scotland to finally make a decision in favour of women’s ordination. In order to speak openly about this topic, they invited members of the press to a press conference. The appointed hour arrived, five minutes passed, ten, fifteen… and no one came. The girls were alone in the hall. Then suddenly the door opened and a member of staff asked them: “Aren’t you coming to speak with the press? There are so many people that we’ve given you the large hall.” And so it began.
In the further course of this year’s conference, several books were presented, including “Every Woman Has a Name” – about those women in the Bible whose names are not known to us, and “Cassock in the Kitchen” – about the experiences of the first women pastors. Celebratory addresses were given by a representative of the Church of England and chair of the organisation “Women and the Church” (WATCH), Dr. Emma Percy, and many others. The aid organisation “Christian Aid” had prepared an exhibition on gender equality and on women’s experiences in various countries and cultures. The centenary of women’s ordination in the United Kingdom was also mentioned. In 1917, the first woman pastor was ordained in the United Reformed Church.
The conference participants expressed solidarity with and support for the women, theologians, and pastors of Latvia in the current situation, in which the ordination of women is no longer possible in the Lutheran Church of Latvia and in which the church opposes the ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
On 22 May, an anniversary procession will take place through the centre and old town of Edinburgh. Its aim is to mark and celebrate the role and significance of women in the life of the church, to honour those women who dared to be the first, and their supporters, as well as to remember those who “knocked, but for whom the door did not yet open”.
Photo: Rev. Mary Morrison – one of the first 6 ordained women.
Mary wrote the book “‘Cassock in the Kitchen: in the early days of women’s ministry” about her experience in ordained ministry.
Photo: Rev. Sheila Spence (formerly White) – one of the first 6 women pastors.
Article prepared by Dr. Theol. Ursula Glienecke, who serves in the Iona Community.Photo: Ursula Glienecke; Centre of Theology and Public Issues (Facebook)