From inside the July, the latest Rev. Bronwen Boswell is appointed Acting Stated Clerk of your Standard System of Presbyterian Church (You.S.A great.), following the retirement of your Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II.
Whenever requested of the development provider from the their unique new role, Boswell told you, “I am humbled and you will thrilled by this opportunity to serve the fresh denomination in this way. It is actually a visit, of the COGA [Committee to your Office of the General System] and also the Holy Spirit.” Like many Presbyterian women prior to their particular, she has risen up to the right position regarding frontrunners during the faith though resilience, passions additionally the sophistication off Jesus.
The fresh naming regarding Boswell as mentioned Clerk echoes other firsts, or any other female leadership, within the Presbyterian background – Louisa Woosley, Margaret Towner, Rachel Henderlite, Katie G. Canon and you will Thelma Adair becoming a few which are worried.
The new Rev. Louisa Woosley became the initial woman minister out of number away from a keen Western Presbyterian denomination when she is actually ordained in 1889 from the their house chapel from inside the Kentucky, a person in the newest Cumberland Presbyterian Church (CPC). Even with a complete rely on out-of their congregation, Woosley’s ordination wasn’t completely acknowledged by the brand new CPC Standard Assembly. This outline did not halt Woosley – rather, she went on to dicuss on pulpit for a long time.
Inside choosing you to call, Boswell turned into the first lady Said Clerk of your own denomination
When you look at the 1930, Tillie Paul Taerican woman opted since a dominating elderly regarding Presbyterian Church throughout the U.S.A beneficial. Prior to their unique election, Tillie Paul worked just like the a good translator, civil-rights suggest and you can missionary teacher when you look at the Tlingit area inside new Pacific Northwest. In becoming a dominating elderly she paved the way in which to have future generations from satisfied Native Western female leadership instance Elona Street-Stewart, the first Native Western to help you act as an effective synod government and you will co-moderator of one’s General Construction.
The new Rev. Margaret Towner produced background and you may statements within the 1956, over 60 many years after Woosley is actually invited toward pulpit, is the initial lady ordained about Presbyterian Chapel throughout the You.S.A great. (PCUSA). When you look at the an effective 1978 interviews, she mirrored on her skills as the a minister, stating that “There is certainly still those who are upset because of the [ordained women] while they return actually so you’re able to Very first Corinthians and you can, you realize, female ought not to chat in chapel, et cetera. In my opinion that is taking less and less.”
The newest Rev. Dr. Rachel Henderlite paralleled Towner’s trip, to be the first woman ordained about Presbyterian Church from the You into the 1965. Even with such as for example advances, many Presbyterians refused to help women leaders. Henderlite acquired a yearly page of a retired pastor in Southern Carolina which have a contact in regards to the ordination of females: “[It] was good ööön kvinnlig grievous sin whilst states on Bible, ‘Allow feminine keep silent regarding the churches.’” Henderlite would not be silenced and you may went on to help you heed the phone call of the Holy Soul.
When the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Canon try ordained by Catawba Presbytery when you look at the 1974, she turned into the initial Black colored woman minister regarding the United Presbyterian Chapel from the U.S.An excellent. (UPCUSA). A founding voice from inside the Womanist theology, Cannon not simply supported at the rear of the brand new pulpit however, talked from the top away from classrooms, teaching for decades at the Forehead University and you will Union Presbyterian Seminary. During the 2018, she depending the center to have Womanist Ethics in the Connection inside Richmond; she passed away in the elizabeth year. Their memories lifetime to your from of numerous lives she swayed and moved.
Brand new labels a lot more than are only some of a much bigger number
As the first need determination and you will determination. Dr. Thelma Adair produced headlines 2 years once Cannon, in 1976, when she is actually decided to go with moderator of one’s 188th General System from brand new UPCUSA, the initial Black lady in that role. (Lois Stairway came into existence the initial light woman moderator of your own General System four years before, when you look at the 1972.) Because moderator from 1976 in order to 1977, Adair traveled the world, visiting seventy regions and you may performing conferences with regional and you may national leaders together with Chairman Gerald Ford.
In June 1975, the brand new Rev. Blanca Estrella Otano-Rivera – known as Blanqui Otano – turned into the initial Latina clergywoman ordained about UPCUSA. She obtained an excellent bachelor’s training throughout the College out of Puerto Rico and you will a good divinity knowledge about Latin american Biblical Seminary from inside the Costa Rica. After graduation, Otano obtained an invitation away from their Presbyterian church for the Caparra Patio so you can act as an area “missionary.” Following call, Blanqui offered the new chapel in different other jobs, together with their particular date toward teams regarding Ladies’ System regarding UPCUSA System Agencies.
As we enjoy Boswell’s leaders as Acting Stated Clerk, why don’t we additionally look back and you will be gratitude towards the the many Presbyterian women that paved how forward.