women’s ordination
3 ways Pope Francis’ opening on women deacons can change Catholicism
By David Gibson — May 17, 2016
(RNS) Ordaining women as deacons may, or may not, happen, but the process could have other, maybe unintended, consequences.
US Catholics cautiously hopeful women may one day be deacons
By RNS staff — May 13, 2016
"Any time you begin to break down one barrier, you see others crumble more," said a proponent of women's ordination.
Modern Orthodox Judaism says ‘no’ to women rabbis
By Kimberly Winston — November 2, 2015
(RNS) The Rabbinical Council of America officially prohibited the ordination of women in what it described as a direct vote of its membership.
Male Adventist pastors forgo ordination credentials in solidarity with unordained women
By Adelle M. Banks — October 15, 2015
(RNS) The act of protest has occurred in several states across the U.S. after the global denomination voted in July not to allow its regional church bodies to ordain women pastors.
Outspoken theologian ousted from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
By Lilly Fowler — July 21, 2015
Matthew Becker had raised questions about the denomination’s stance against the ordination of women, as well as its teaching of creationism, or the literal reading of the story of creation in the book of Genesis.
Kate Kelly: If staying in LDS Church doesn’t ‘spark joy,’ it’s OK to leave
By Kate Kelly — July 20, 2015
"Give yourself permission to make the best choice for you and your own wellbeing., writes Kelly. "Put your faith in yourself and in women."
Adventists stay the course, vote to deny women’s ordination
By Adelle M. Banks — July 8, 2015
(RNS) Despite the "no" vote, several U.S. conferences of Seventh-day Adventists have ordained women in recent years.
Seventh-day Adventists to decide in 2015 on women’s ordination
By Adelle M. Banks — October 15, 2014
(RNS) The 243-44 vote marks the next step in a decades-long consideration of an issue that has divided the worldwide denomination, which time and again has voted to not permit women’s ordination.
COMMENTARY: Obscure no more, world’s first woman rabbi receives recognition
By A. James Rudin — July 25, 2014
(RNS) Rabbi Regina Jonas' grim task was to meet the incoming trains and provide counseling to the frightened and bewildered Jews arriving at the Theresienstadt concentration camp.
The ‘Philadelphia 11’ who shattered the stained-glass ceiling: 40 years later, where are they now?
By Heather Adams — July 23, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Forty years ago this week, 11 women broke rank and were ordained as the first female priests in the Episcopal Church. Find out here what became of the “Philadelphia Eleven.”
Vatican editor says England’s female bishops vote ‘complicates’ relations
By Josephine McKenna — July 15, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Giovanni Maria Vian said women bishops would have “an extremely negative impact” on steps to bring Anglicans and Catholics closer together despite a positive meeting between Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Pope Francis.
English priest shadows women bishops for a job she can’t have — yet
By Adelle M. Banks — March 27, 2014
(RNS) The Rev. Sue Pinnington chose to spend her sabbatical exploring the roles of women bishops in hopes that she can bring back what she learned about leadership to members of the Church of England.
Catholics call Pope Francis ‘a change for the better’
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 6, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) U.S. Catholics always like their pope but often ignore Catholic teachings. Now, a new survey on Pope Francis' first year finds that they "not only like the singer, they like the new song."
Some Seventh-day Adventists forge ahead on women clergy
By Adelle M. Banks — December 3, 2013
(RNS) For now, statements from church headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., focus less on gender and more on concern that regional church bodies have forged ahead with their own decisions without consensus from the wider denomination.
Pope Francis lays out a blueprint for his papacy in ‘Evangelii Gaudium’
By Eric J. Lyman — November 26, 2013
ROME (RNS) "How can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving?" Pope Francis asked. "Today, everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless."