Faces on Faith: In celebration of women
Recently, the Episcopal Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood. The story of those first 11 courageous women ordained in Philadelphia in 1974 is moving and powerful. They overcame personal insults, threats, and official and unofficial forces of resistance too numerous to mention, but they paved the way for the gifts of women in ordained ministry to be officially recognized and affirmed. They paved the way for the church to come to realize that God’s love is alive and at work in everyone, regardless of gender. Their gifts have been a tremendous blessing to the church and to the world.
The anniversary had me thinking about all the women who have influenced my life and my faith. The first was my mother. Sitting me on her lap to read from a beautiful children’s Bible. Teaching me about God. Answering my many questions. She introduced me to the feminine dimensions of the divine, helping to balance some of the “Father God” and “King on a Throne” images I was receiving in church.
The best teacher I ever had was a woman. I struggled in my first year of high school, away at boarding school, missing home. Mrs. Holm saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself. She challenged and supported me through my struggles.
All of the church staffs I have worked on over the course of 35 years have been made up (mostly) of women. Some made financial and personal sacrifices to work in the church rather than a “secular” job.
My spouse and partner-in-ministry, Sue, has had a great influence on my life and on my faith. Her dedication, faithfulness, unflinching support and love has carried me through the challenges. I also see how she weaves compassion and care through everything she does in ministry.
I have been blessed with tremendous colleagues in ministry here at St. Michael’s and in every church that I have served. Some of these women faced barriers on their way to ordained ministry, but their clear gifts overcame anyone’s doubts.
These are just some of the faithful women who have had an impact on my life. The Bible is filled with the stories of many, many more. In doing some research, I learned that in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation of the Bible, 93 specific women speak 14,056 words. Women like Sarah, Miriam, Naomi and Ruth, Martha and Mary, the Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus.
It was faithful women who stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross after the other disciples had fled. Women were the privileged first witnesses of the empty tomb, the first to proclaim “He’s alive” to a band of dejected, frightened followers. It is abundantly clear that Jesus loved women just as much as he loved men (fully and completely).
I have been inspired by the lives and witness of women like Mother Teresa, Frances Perkins, Harriet Beecher Stowe and so many more. These women were bright shining lights in their time, and that light continues to burn brightly today.
I am abundantly grateful for all the women who have helped to shape my life and my faith, and who have helped me to know and to love God and others more deeply. Take a moment to remember the women who have influenced you in a positive way and, if you are able, say thank you to them for inspiring and blessing you.
The Rev. William “Bill” Van Oss is the rector at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.