Press Release

For immediate release: December 1, 2005  

Contact: Evelyn Hunt, 216 795-4264 (home), Sharon Danner, 703 352-1006 (office)  

  Aisha Taylor Named Women’s Ordination Conference Executive Director  

Washington , DC – Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) Board of Directors announced the hiring of Aisha Taylor as Executive Director today. Taylor brings a depth of relevant experience to her leadership of WOC, the nation's oldest and leading organization working for the ordination of Catholic women into a renewed priesthood.

“We are truly fortunate to have the energetic, talented and capable Aisha Taylor taking the helm of WOC as Executive Director,” said Evelyn Hunt, president of WOC. “She is an exemplary woman, dedicated to justice and inclusion in all levels of Church and we are proud to have her lead WOC into the future.”  

In Taylor’s previous position as WOC’s Program Director, she initiated a strong revival of WOC’s Young Feminist Network, and increasing public awareness of the need for women’s ordination and structural change in the church through local, national and international media, including interviews and quotations in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, London Sky News, National Public Radio, Deutche Welle, USA Today, Boston Herald, Cleveland Plain Dealer and more.

Taylor is a diversity and organizational change consultant for Jones & Associates Consulting, Inc. She also serves on the Board of Directors for NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and is a member of the Call to Action Anti-Racism Team. Originally from Sacramento, Calif., Taylor holds a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities with an emphasis in Religious Studies from the University of San Diego.

“I am honored and eager to serve in the WOC community as we work to bring about Jesus’ message of justice – full liberation for women and all God’s creation.” said Taylor.

“WOC has stood up for women’s ordination and the discipleship of equals for the past 30 years. I look forward to continuing this work and leading it to new levels by focusing on WOC’s feminist ministries, including our Three Ministries and Young Feminist Network, deepening our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and building relationships among justice-oriented people of faith across the U.S. and the world. Women's ordination is an issue of justice, and we will make the connections to women's daily lived experience, especially in the context of violence and domination," Taylor concluded.

Taylor will direct the staff and work of Women’s Ordination Conference at the national headquarters in Fairfax, VA. She will meet with members and supporters of WOC across the country in the coming months. Members of WOC are invited to share your ideas with Aisha by writing to programs@womensordination.org.  

Founded in 1975, Women’s Ordination Conference works for the ordination of Catholic women into a renewed priestly ministry that is compassionate, inclusive and empowering of all people. www.womensordination.org