Women Called to Lead

2005 and 2006 marked special anniversaries for women in leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its predecessor denominations:
              
100th anniversary of women as deacons
In 1906 in the UPCNA women were admitted to ordination as deacons. 2006 marked the 100th anniversary.
75th anniversary of women as ruling elders
In 1930 in the PCUSA women were admitted to ordination as ruling elders. The 75th anniversary was in 2005.
50th anniversary of women as ministers of Word and Sacrament
In 1955 the General Assembly of the PCUSA voted to approve the ordination of women to the office of Word and Sacrament. It was approved by the presbyteries and in 1956 the first woman was ordained in the tradition that is now the PC(USA). Thus we celebrated in 2006 the 50th anniversary of women ordained as ministers of Word and Sacrament.

Did you know?
The first woman ordained in the Presbyterian Church as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament was ordained in Syracuse, NY? Margaret Towner was ordained at the First Presbyterian Church in Syracuse on October 24, 1956.

The first woman elder at Westminster Church in Auburn (actually "old Second") was Marjorie Drummond.

The first woman pastor at Westminster Church in Auburn was the Reverend Cynthia Warner Crowell, who served as pastor at Westminster from 1992 to 1998.