Today marks 20 years since three Latvian women were ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Abroad for service in the USA!
On 18 June 2000, graduates of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Latvia, Gundega Puidza, Ilze Larsen, and Dace Skudiņa, were ordained as pastors. The ordination was led by LELBĀL archbishop emeritus Elmārs Ernsts Rozītis, the current LELBĀL archbishop (at the time – dean) Lauma Zušēvica, and the dean of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia in America, Uldis Cepure (1935–2005).
The ordination worship service took place at the Latvian center “Garezers”, USA (more about what “Garezers” is can be read here – https://garezers.org/par-mums/).
The Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians’ Association warmly greets Pastor Gundega Puidza, Pastor Ilze Larsen, and Pastor Dace Skudiņa on the 20th anniversary of their ordination!
As is known, with the election of Jānis Vanags to the office of archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, women’s ordination in Latvia was effectively discontinued.
LLSTA editorial team
