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Priesthood, Episcopalian/Anglican

Anglican churches are split on the question of women's ordination. Since the 1970s, thousands of women have been ordained as priests in the Anglican Communion, and more than 20 have been ordained as bishops. The issue remains controversial, however, especially as it has led a few conservative congregations to break away from their provinces. Nonetheless, in most areas of the communion, the prohibitions against women's ordination are continuing to be removed.

Women Priests

The Worldwide Anglican Communion is made up of 38 individual, autonomous provinces, including the Church of England and the Episcopal Church, USA (EC-USA). In 1968, the Lambeth Conference—the meeting of Anglican bishops and primates held every 10 years—decided that arguments both for and against women's ordination were “inconclusive” and that women's ordination would be ...

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