What would women be doing in the
Episcopal Church in 1975?

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Illustration - The ordination service of the Philadelphia 11 in 1974
Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Background: The Episcopal Church is in the midst of a major liturgical revision The United States has withdrawn from Vietnam. The Women's Movement has widespread support; abortion has been legalized; and the Equal Rights Amendment has been sent to the states for ratification. An American woman is Chairing the Anglican Consultative Council

• The Episcopal Church is in the midst of a major liturgical revision
• The United States has withdrawn from Vietnam.
• The Women's Movement has widespread support; abortion has been legalized; and the Equal Rights Amendment has been sent to the states for ratification.
  
• An American woman is Chairing the Anglican Consultative Council
  
• Women are fully recognized as licensed lay readers, deacons, and the church is coming to terms with the irregular ordinations of 15 women to the priesthood in ceremonies in Philadelphia and Washington D.C.  The separate order of Deaconesses has ended.
  
• Women serve on vestries, and as deputies to diocesan conventions, provincial synods, and General Convention.
• Women continue their parish ministries and guilds, leading in parish life and christian education, publishing religious materials, serving as organists and choir directors or members, teaching in church schools and Sunday Schools, serving as domestic and foreign missionaries, joining and founding religious orders, running hospitals and other social service institutions, and funding the United Thank Offering and other ministries.
• Episcopalian Cynthia Wedel is the head of the World Council of Churches.
  

This web page is maintained by Webster Joan R. Gundersen
for the Episcopal Women's History Project.