Methodist Poster Marks 50 Ways to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Clergy Rights for Women

The United Methodist Church published a poster marking ''50 Ways to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Full Clergy Rights for Women,'' which gives advice on how to show appreciation for women leaders in the denomination.

The years 2005 and 2006 mark milestones for the history of women’s rights in the church. The two signify the 50th anniversary of the official ordination of women ministers in the nation’s largest Presbyterian and Methodist denominations, and the 30th anniversary of women ministers in the Episcopal Church USA.

In light of the celebrations, the United Methodist Church published a poster marking “50 Ways to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Full Clergy Rights for Women,” which gives advice on how to show appreciation for women leaders in the denomination.

Some of those suggestions include taking a clergywoman to lunch, giving her flowers, creating a scholarship in her name, or inviting her to preach at your church.

According to M. Garlinda Burton, the chief executive of the UMC’s Commission on the Status and Role of Women, the poster is also meant to promote awareness of the history and current role of clergywomen. She explained to the United Methodist News Service that the poster shows the long history of women leadership in the church – the first woman licensed to preach was Sarah Crosby in 1761.

"Long before we officially started ordaining women, women have been pastors and preachers," she said. "In 1956, we just caught up with what had been an ancient Judeo-Christian practice of having women preach and teach."

About one-fourth of UMC clergy are now women, and nearly half of UMC-related seminary students are females.

The poster will be mailed to every local church. For more information on how to order the poster, visit: www.gbhem.org/clergywomen.