Women's Ordination Conference

Women's Ordination Conference is a Catholic Church reform organization that advocates for the ordination of women as priests and bishops in the Roman Catholic Church. The organization was founded in 1975 by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Sister Therese Kane, and other Catholic reformers, including Elizabeth Farians and Mary Daly, who were inspired by the Second Vatican Council and the feminist movement. The conference has been supported by various Catholic organizations, such as the National Coalition of American Nuns and the Catholic Theological Society of America, as well as by prominent Catholic figures like Hans Küng and Leonardo Boff.

● History

The Women's Ordination Conference has its roots in the 1960s and 1970s, when Catholic feminists like Rosemary Radford Ruether and Mary Hunt began to challenge the Catholic Church's teachings on women's roles and ordination. The conference was formally established in 1975, with the goal of promoting the ordination of women and advocating for greater gender equality within the Catholic Church. Over the years, the organization has been influenced by various Catholic reform movements, including the Vatican II renewal and the Liberation Theology movement, which was led by Gustavo Gutiérrez and Oscar Romero. The conference has also been supported by Protestant and Orthodox Christian denominations, such as the Episcopal Church and the Orthodox Church in America, which have ordained women as priests and bishops.

● Organization

The Women's Ordination Conference is a non-profit organization that is governed by a board of directors, which includes Catholic theologians and activists like Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and Sister Joan Chittister. The organization has a membership of over 1,000 Catholic reformers and feminists, including Rosemary Radford Ruether, Mary Hunt, and Elizabeth Johnson, who are committed to promoting gender equality and women's ordination within the Catholic Church. The conference also has a network of local chapters and affiliates, which include the Catholic Women's Ordination Coalition and the Women's Ordination Worldwide organization, and has collaborated with other Catholic reform organizations, such as the Call to Action and the Catholic Church Reform International.

● Mission and Goals

The Women's Ordination Conference has a mission to promote the ordination of women as priests and bishops in the Roman Catholic Church, and to advocate for greater gender equality and inclusivity within the Catholic Church. The organization's goals include educating Catholics about the theology and history of women's ordination, and promoting dialogue and reform within the Catholic Church. The conference has also been influenced by the theology of Karl Rahner and Edward Schillebeeckx, and has collaborated with other Catholic reform organizations, such as the Pax Christi and the Catholic Peacebuilding Network. The organization's mission is also supported by Catholic theologians like Hans Küng and Leonardo Boff, who have argued that the ordination of women is a matter of justice and equality.

● Activities and Events

The Women's Ordination Conference has organized various events and activities to promote women's ordination and gender equality within the Catholic Church. These have included conferences and workshops, such as the International Conference on Women's Ordination and the Gathering for Women's Ordination, as well as protests and demonstrations, such as the Ordination of Women Protest and the Catholic Church Reform Rally. The organization has also published various publications and resources, including the Journal of Feminist Theology in Religion and the Women's Ordination Newsletter, which have been edited by Catholic theologians like Rosemary Radford Ruether and Mary Hunt. The conference has also collaborated with other Catholic reform organizations, such as the National Catholic Reporter and the Catholic News Service, to promote women's ordination and gender equality.

● Impact and Controversies

The Women's Ordination Conference has had a significant impact on the Catholic Church and the wider Christian community, and has been the subject of various controversies and debates. The organization's advocacy for women's ordination has been supported by many Catholic reformers and feminists, including Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and Sister Joan Chittister, but has also been opposed by some Catholic traditionalists and conservatives, such as Cardinal Raymond Burke and Bishop Robert Morlino. The conference has also been criticized by some Catholic hierarchy, including the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which have argued that the ordination of women is not possible according to Catholic teaching and tradition. Despite these controversies, the Women's Ordination Conference remains a prominent voice for women's ordination and gender equality within the Catholic Church.

● Notable Members and Supporters

The Women's Ordination Conference has a number of notable members and supporters, including Catholic theologians like Rosemary Radford Ruether and Mary Hunt, as well as Catholic reformers like Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and Sister Joan Chittister. The organization has also been supported by various Catholic organizations, such as the National Coalition of American Nuns and the Catholic Theological Society of America, as well as by prominent Catholic figures like Hans Küng and Leonardo Boff. Other notable supporters include feminist theologians like Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza and Delores Williams, as well as Catholic activists like Roy Bourgeois and Janice Sevre-Duszynska, who have been involved in the ordination of women and gender equality movements. The conference has also collaborated with other Catholic reform organizations, such as the Call to Action and the Catholic Church Reform International, to promote women's ordination and gender equality within the Catholic Church.

Category:Roman Catholic Church