Our mission is to advocate and pray for women’s ordination as deacons, priests, and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Roman Catholic Church.
Who we are
Founded in 1975, the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) is the oldest and largest organization working to ordain women as priests, deacons, and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Roman Catholic Church.
A feminist voice for women in the Roman Catholic Church, WOC is a grassroots-driven movement that promotes activism, dialogue, and prayerful witness to call for women’s full equality in the Church.
Our Vision
The collective vision of WOC is a Roman Catholic Church that affirms women’s gifts, responds by calling them to ministry and ordination, openly and actively supports women’s voices, and reflects the example of Jesus – welcoming all to the table.
We recognize and value all ministries that meet the spiritual needs of the People of God. We celebrate our diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, language and symbol in our church community.
Our Values
Full and Equal Participation by People of All Genders
Grassroots Activism
Diversity, Inclusion & Racial Justice
Collective Decision Making
Empowerment & Participatory Leadership
Feminist, Mujerista, Womanist, & Trans Thought and Action
Social Justice
Meet Our Team
Kate
McElwee
Executive Director
(she/her)
Our board is passionate about women’s priestly equality and building a church where all are welcome to share their gifts and participate fully in ministry
regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation
Bernadette Raspante, President
Barb Kozee, Vice President
John Barbieri
Matthew Casey-Pariseault
Nancy Fitzgerald
Clare Kemmerer
Anne Latour
Dr. Terry Schultz
Sara Sullins
Robert Yohanan
Our Advisory Board
Advisors are members of WOC and experts in their fields. In their support of advancing our mission, advisors are consulted on an ad hoc basis on matters such as theology, strategy, and development.