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women theological students, aspirants, postulants, candidates, deacons and priests...as well as a role model for

many ordained men a Barbara Harris quote in Ruach.

President Ginger Paul and past president Sally Bucklee were among a group of Episcopal women who

attended the Women of the ELCA annual gathering, joining their Lutheran sisters in the theme to Listen, God is

Calling. Also in 2002, seven Roman Catholic women one of them a US citizen were ordained priests by

bishops from Argentina and Austria aboard a boat on the River Danube.

Bishop Jane Holmes Dixons contention that as the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese of Washington she

should have full access to the diocesan property at Accokeek was upheld by the Federal Court.

During Lyn Headley-Moores presidency, the Caucus launched the Angel Project as a way to send an ordained

woman as an incarnate presence to one of the dioceses still refusing to ordain or license women priests. It became a

reality in the fall of 2002 during Ginger Pauls presidency when the Caucus accepted the invitation of the Fort

Worth EWC chapter. After developing host requirements and criteria for Angels, the Board chose the Rev. Barbara

Schlachter first EWC president and she headed for Fort Worth for the canonically allowable 59 days.

The annual meeting was held in Boston with Jubilee Officer the Rev. Carmen Guerrero addressing the theme

of Economic Justice. An interesting role play to dramatize the disparities between rich and poor helped to bring

the subject into focus. The Caucus hosted a dinner honoring retiring Bishop Barbara Harris and Bishop-elect Gayle

Harris at the Episcopal Divinity School, and the Sunday Eucharist at the cathedral provided the opportunity to hear

one last Barbara Harris sermon.

Angel Barbara Schlachter provided an overview of the first half of her visit in Fort Worth, describing the

support of clergy who risked censure, the invitations to speak, meet, preach and on one occasion concelebrate the

Eucharist in an Episcopal Church. The winter issue of Ruach has a full and moving account of her experiences and

comments by people who treasured her presence among them.

In stark contrast was the A045 Task Force report and its accompanying resolution to the 2003 General

Convention. Calling for a day of dialogue and reflection at the 2006 General Convention 30 years after the

historic 1976 convention opened ordination to women so that the reluctant dragons might catch up with the rest

of the Church was offensive. That resolution is on the agenda of the GC legislative team.

As I write this just five weeks before the opening of General Convention 2003 in Minneapolis, my prayer is for

historic decisions once again in that historic place. May we live the Great Commandments to love God and love

our neighbor, that we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

Marge Christie

NOTE: This history was originally compiled by Marge Christie, in September, 1996, for the twenty-fifth

anniversary celebration of the Episcopal Women's Caucus. It was taken from back issues of Ruach, the Caucus'

newsletter, dated Spring, 1974, through Winter, 1996.

The update for the years 1996 to 2003, has also been compiled from issues of Ruach by Marge Christie.

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