Who are members of the
Women’s Ordination Conference?
Women and men who believe:
† The church, in fidelity to the gospel, must be open to the full and equal participation of women in all its ministries
† Women have an equal right with men to have their call to ordination tested and their church leadership respected
† Decisions affecting the life of the whole church should reflect female as well as male experience and thought
† The church hierarchy should not define male and female "roles" or perpetuate any system that defines or limits one’s gifts or calling on the basis of gender
† Renewing the priesthood is a critical step in revitalizing the entire church and being an effective, welcoming presence in our contemporary world.
What are the benefits of membership?
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NewWomen, NewChurch
You will receive four issues of NewWomen, NewChurch, our quarterly newsletter, featuring news and articles by feminist activists and theologians to keep you up-to-date about the movement to ordain women. Read personal accounts of women in ministry, book reviews and poetry.
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Access to WOC's Activist Network
WOC’s activist network connects you to other WOC members in your area that want to work for change in the church. Through the network, WOC members share advice and ideas on how to plan and organize feminist demonstrations, liturgies and more.
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Eligibility to Apply for the Bishop Murphy Scholarship
As part of WOC’s commitment to a renewing priestly ministry, we have created a permanent scholarship fund called the Bishop Frank Murphy Scholarship for Women in Ministry. We award two or more $1000 annual scholarships for WOC members called to a renewing priestly ministry.
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Participation in WOC's Ministries
Including the Three Ministries and Young Feminist Network, WOC's ministries and programs connect WOC members around the country in local and national action.
WOC Board members (left to right) Ruth Steinert-Foote, Janice Sevre-Duszynska, Celine Goessl, Victoria Rue and Regina Nicolosi stand in their priestly garments at the WOC Showering the Bishops with Roses event outside the Bishops meeting in Washington DC on November 14, 2005.
What does WOC do?
Click here to view WOC's programs & projects.
As a WOC member, you join an
organization whose collective power:
- Recognizes and publicly authenticates women’s gifts in the life of the church
- Identifies, unites and serves as a resource for women who are called to a renewing priestly ministry
- Affirms what is priestly in each member of the Church
- Networks and strategizes with faith-based feminist efforts at the local, national, and international level
- Creates theology based on the experiences of women
- Shares tools and strategies to challenge structures that are discriminatory and harmful to women
- Gives presence to Catholic feminists’ voices in the US press and worldwide media
- Is represented in the Women-Church Convergence movement and the Catholic Organization for Renewal coalition
- Seeks and prays to be faithful to the liberating message of the Gospel
- Supports and develops a network of people struggling for the liberation of the oppressed, including the women of our contemporary world and church
Join WOC today! Gift the gift of WOC membership!
