Women’s Spirit in our Church

Gathering 4: Women’s Ordination

Opening Prayer

God of Light and Life

God of light and life, we experience the injustice which fear nurtures,

and holds tightly to divisions between male and female,

Ordained and non-ordained,

Mandated celibacy and sexual intimacy.

Yet in the new creation of Jesus we know there is neither male nor female.

Grant us the light of wisdom to grasp and welcome changes in structures

and in understanding,

which embody the new creation in the Christian Church.

Sustain in us the strength of new life to continue working towards these changes.

Fill us with the joy and peace of your present Love

as we seek to bring your design for our world to life

in the Christian Churches.

We ask this in the name of your Spirit and your Child.

Response: May God bless us all in our work of loving the church into fullness of life—God who is Parent, Child and Spirit. Amen.

Ginny Keirnan Dahlberg, USA, World Day of Prayer for Women’s Ordination Liturgy, sponsored by the Women’s Ordination Conference, 2004.

Scripture

The Inclusive Bible, translated by Priests for Equality and a Project of the Quixote Center, is the source of the following quotes.

All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. In Christ, there is no Jew or Greek, slave or citizen, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:27-28

Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them, God created humankind, male and female God created them. ~ Genesis 1:27

Discussion Questions

Do you think women should be ordained? Why or why not?

What priestly gifts do you possess? How do you answer your baptismal call?

How would our church be different with women priests? How would it be the same? What structures within the priesthood and the church would also need to change to allow for a renewed priesthood and renewed church where all are equal, liberated from oppression, and nourished spiritually?

What do you think of women who are moving beyond Roman Catholic structures to be ordained in Roman (or other) Catholic faith communities?

Ritual

Pass out purple stoles, the international symbol of women’s ordination as adopted at the first Women’s Ordination Worldwide Conference in Dublin, Ireland in 2001. Purple represents the royal priesthood as well as the color of repentance for the church’s sin of sexism. You may make them by cutting stripes of purple felt or another cloth, or you can order them from Women’s Ordination Conference. Wear them as you offer prayers of support and creativity to women called to ministry who find it difficult to fulfill God’s call in their lives.

Closing Prayer

All Are One

Jesus, scripture teaches us:

“There is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.”

All are one in your image.

Let us live this message in our lives, in our communities,

and especially in our churches.

Let us use our voice to speak truth about justice and equality.

Let us celebrate the gifts of all God’s people.

Give us hope for the future of our renewed church.

Amen.

Joy Barnes, USA, Women’s Ordination Conference World Day of Prayer for Women’s Ordination, 2004