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Good morning
When I was ordained to the ministry of a congregational church in the late 1970s, I was aware of stepping into a tradition of ordained women’s ministry going back generations. But I also knew that my sisters in the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church still could not be ordained – which seemed very strange to me!

I, and my female colleagues, were fully accepted. There was nothing a male minister was permitted to do that we could not – indeed, the question never arose. I can remember a little boy moving with his family from my church to another town, who made the classic remark: but mummy, their minister is a man!

I joined and later chaired the Society for the Ministry of Women in the Church, which had been founded in 1929, just after women had been granted the right to vote. The founding minutes record the lively expectation that women’s ordination in the Church of England would surely follow very soon.

Nearly sixty years later, it seemed that the dream of so many women and men was as far off as ever. But on this day, in 1987, the historic vote was taken, to clear the way for the ordination of women priests.

It was another five years of negotiation before the final vote in favour, and a further two years before the first women were ordained. And now, more than twenty years after that, we have seen the first woman consecrated bishop in the Church of England, for which God be praised! – although I’m aware that not everyone would join me in that!

God, whose ministers are burning fire, we pray for all who serve you as ordained ministers and leaders in the churches. Give them a pastoral heart, to care for your people, the ability to inspire through worship, and endless patience!
Amen
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