Stories, Hope, and the Future of the Catholic Church: What I Learned at the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC’s) 50th Anniversary Celebration
- AndreaGrace
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
Over Pentecost Weekend in May, I was blessed to attend the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) 50th Anniversary Gathering.
WOC was born from a bold hope: that one day the doors of the Roman Catholic Church would be opened fully and equally to all God's people. That hope remains alive today.
The movement began in the years following Vatican II, when many believed the Church was entering a season of renewal and possibility. Yet as opportunities expanded for some, the call and gifts of women continued to be restricted. WOC emerged in response to that reality—advocating for the full inclusion of women in ordained ministry and challenging the Church to recognize the Spirit's gifts wherever they are found. WOC foundresses were also inspired by the Philadelphia 11 – the first women priests in the Episcopal Church.
Over the past five decades, WOC has faithfully educated, organized, prayed, protested, and advocated. Their work has helped keep the conversation alive and inspired generations of Catholics who long for a Church that more fully reflects the radical inclusivity of Jesus.
One of the highlights of the conference was reconnecting with dear friends and meeting new companions on the journey. More than 200 people gathered from across the country and around the world. There were members of WOC's leadership, women priests, deacons, theologians, parish leaders, allies, and advocates. We represented a rich diversity of ages, cultures, experiences, and perspectives—all united by a shared commitment to justice and the belief that God's call knows no gender.
As I listened to the speakers and participated in conversations, I found myself reflecting on these themes:
1. Collaboration Creates Change
Meaningful change rarely happens in isolation. History reminds us that transformation occurs when ordinary people work together toward a common vision.
The Civil Rights Movement did not succeed because of one leader. It was sustained by countless individuals who marched, organized, spoke out, and refused to give up. It also required people on the ground and people writing laws. The movement for women's ordination is no different. We must collaborate with male bishops, cardinals and even the Pope to affect change. Truly, to return to our roots of women leaders in the Early Christian Church. (Check out this blogpost entitled: Racism, Catholic Ordinations & Truth)
Change requires community. It requires persistence. It requires people willing to imagine a different future and then work together to bring it into being.
As Margaret Mead famously observed:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
2. Women's Ordination Is a Matter of Justice that intersects with other important issues
At its heart, the movement for women's ordination is not simply about who can stand at the altar. It is about human dignity.
Throughout history, people have been excluded because of race, class, ethnicity, varied abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other differences. We have learned—sometimes painfully—that exclusion diminishes the entire community.
When women are denied access to leadership solely because they are women, the Church loses gifts, wisdom, creativity, compassion, and perspective. More importantly, women are denied the opportunity to fully respond to God's call.
Justice is not about granting privileges. It is about recognizing what has been present all along: the Spirit of God calling, equipping, and empowering people of every gender.
Women's ordination is also connected to the broader work of justice in our world. How women are treated in the Church reflects how we value human dignity in society as a whole. The struggle for women's equality intersects with concerns for LGBTQ+ people, immigrants and refugees, those living in poverty, and all who find themselves pushed to the margins.
The Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest and most influential institutions in the world. Its teachings and practices shape not only the lives of Catholics but also cultural attitudes far beyond its walls. When women are excluded from leadership and denied access to ordained ministry, it sends a message about whose voices, gifts, and experiences are valued.
Imagine the witness the Church could offer if women were welcomed fully into every level of leadership and free to share their God-given gifts. Such a change would not only enrich the Church itself; it would provide a powerful example for the world—an example of inclusion, equality, and the belief that every person is created in the image of God and called to contribute to the flourishing of the whole community.
If one part of the Body of Christ is restricted, the whole Body suffers. (Check out this blogpost entitled: Lessons from The Early Christian Church: Using Our Gifts to Serve One Another and Build the Community.
3. Are We Choosing Unity or Uniformity?
One of the questions that surfaced repeatedly for me during the conference was this: What does it mean to be Catholic?
Too often, Catholicism is understood as uniformity—the idea that every aspect of being Catholic must look the same across the globe. The same language. The same images. The same expressions of faith. The same structures of leadership.
But perhaps Catholicism is better understood as unity rather than uniformity.
Unity does not require sameness. Unity honors diversity while holding us together through shared values, shared faith, and shared commitment to following Jesus' Way of Love. A truly global Church should be able to embrace different cultures, perspectives, and experiences while remaining united in its purpose.
Imagine if local communities were encouraged to express their faith in ways that reflected their own cultures and realities. Imagine prayers, images of God, and liturgical language that resonated more deeply with the people gathered in worship. Imagine leadership structures flexible enough to respond to the needs of local communities while remaining connected to the larger Church.
As I reflected on this, I found myself wondering which image of God better reflects the Church we are called to become.
Do we imagine God as the conductor of an orchestra, where every musician must carefully follow the same written notes in exactly the same way?
Or do we imagine God as the leader of a jazz ensemble—providing the framework, setting the rhythm, and then inviting each musician to improvise, contribute, and showcase their unique gifts?
Both create beautiful music. But one leaves more room for creativity, diversity, and the movement of the Spirit.
Catholicism has historically been shaped through a largely European lens. Yet ours is a global Church. We have much to learn from cultures around the world. During the conference, I was reminded of the African concept of ubuntu: "I am because of you."
Ubuntu recognizes that our humanity is bound together. We become more fully ourselves through our relationships with one another. That understanding feels deeply Catholic to me. We are not isolated individuals. We are the Body of Christ. We belong to one another.
Perhaps the future of the Church lies not in insisting that everyone be the same, but in learning how to honor our differences while remaining united in love.
4. Change Happens Through Stories
Another insight that stayed with me is that change often begins when people find the courage to tell their stories.
A few years ago, I attended a conference in Rome that WOC helped organize. (check out the blogpost: Ciao di Roma – Hello From Rome)
One of the keynote speakers was Dr. Mary McAleese, former president of Ireland. She reflected on how rapidly public attitudes and laws regarding abortion changed in Ireland.
What sparked that change?
People began telling their stories.
Women shared their experiences publicly and within their own families, neighborhoods, and social circles. Once people heard the human stories behind the issue, many could no longer dismiss the need for change. Hearts opened. Perspectives shifted. New possibilities emerged.
The same pattern can be seen in other movements for justice. Mothers Against Drunk Driving transformed public awareness by sharing stories of loss and grief. The movement for marriage equality gained momentum as people came to know the stories of LGBTQ+ family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Stories have a way of turning abstract issues into human realities.
Perhaps that is true for women's ordination as well.
We need to tell our stories.
I need to tell my story of being called to priesthood.
You need to tell your story about why you continue to gather in prayer with me and this community.
We need to tell the story of BeLoved Inclusive Catholic Community—why it matters, how it has changed lives, and why we believe the Church can become more inclusive, more compassionate, and more reflective of Jesus' ministry.
Stories create connection. Stories build understanding. Stories invite people to see the world through another person's eyes.
And stories change hearts.
If we hope to see change in the Church, perhaps one of the most important things we can do is continue sharing our experiences—honestly, courageously, and with love.
Every story matters.
Every voice matters.
And together our stories become a witness to what the Holy Spirit is already doing among us.
5. Embodiment Matters
One speaker reminded us of the statement: "I think, therefore I am."
For centuries, Western culture has often elevated the mind while diminishing the body. Yet our bodies are not incidental to who we are. They are sacred. They are part of how we experience God, express love, build relationships, and move through the world.
For women especially, embodiment matters.
Women's experiences are shaped not only by ideas but by the realities of living in female bodies—bodies that have too often been controlled, dismissed, sexualized, ignored, or excluded. To deny women's voices in leadership is to deny the wisdom that emerges from those lived experiences.
Our bodies carry stories. They carry memory. They carry joy, grief, resilience, and hope.
The Incarnation itself reminds us that God did not choose to remain distant or abstract. God became embodied in Jesus. The Holy One entered fully into human life, affirming the goodness and sacredness of our physical existence.
Embodiment is not a distraction from spirituality. It is one of the ways we encounter the Divine.
6. Change Happens Slowly—And It Happens
One of the reminders I took away from the conference is that meaningful change rarely happens overnight. More often, it unfolds slowly, one conversation, one courageous act, and one small victory at a time.
When we look back, we can see signs of progress. Women now hold some of the highest leadership positions at the Vatican. Just last week, a lay woman was appointed to oversee the communications department. Women and lay people participated in synodal discussions that would have been unimaginable a generation ago. While there is still much work to do, these changes remind me that transformation is possible.
During the conference, I watched On the Basis of Sex, the film about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's first landmark case challenging gender discrimination. The movie vividly portrays the barriers women faced in the 1950s and 1970s and the courage required to challenge them. Watching it reminded me how far society has come—and how much further we still have to go.
Even today, inequities remain. I recently read that female physicians continue to earn significantly less than their male counterparts despite entering medical school in increasing numbers. Progress is real, but it is often incomplete.
Yet I left the conference hopeful.
Just last week, Pope Leo publicly asked forgiveness for the Church's role in slavery. That moment struck me deeply. Institutions are capable of acknowledging past wrongs. They are capable of growth, repentance, and change.
If the Church can recognize mistakes made in one area of its history, perhaps there is reason to hope that one day it may also acknowledge the ways women have been excluded from leadership and ordained ministry.
History reminds us that women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, and leaders in the early centuries of Christianity. Recovering that history is not about creating something new. It is about remembering what has been forgotten. One of the greatest gifts of the Conference, was the distribution of a booklet, Women: Prophets, Apostles, Bishops, Priests and Deacons written by my dear-sister-priest-friend Rev. Cathy Collins. You can download it here.
Change may come slowly. But it comes.
And every small step forward invites us to keep walking, trusting that the Holy Spirit-Sophia continues to lead us toward a more just, inclusive, and loving Church.
The Journey Continues
As WOC celebrates fifty years, I find myself filled with gratitude—for the pioneers who courageously spoke when few would listen, for those who continue the work today, and for younger generations who are carrying the vision forward.
The road toward equality in the Church has not been easy, and there is still much work to do. Yet gatherings like this remind me that hope is alive.
The Spirit continues to move.
The Spirit continues to call.
And the Spirit continues to invite us into a Church—and a world—where every person's gifts are welcomed, honored, and shared for the good of all.
May we have the wisdom to listen.
May we have the courage to collaborate.
May we have the faith to trust that God's dream of justice, inclusion, and love is still unfolding among us.
And may we continue to follow Jesus' Way of Love together.
Prayer for WOC’s 50th – penned by Rev. AndreaGrace on Dec 8, 2025
God of the ages
You created people to be in partnership,
You make all things new
and in You, there is no time
We gather
like Jesus’ faithful disciples for our religion’s holiday
with so many emotions, questions and certainties.
We gather like the hundreds of people at WOC’s first conference 50 years ago
with hope and awe.
Come Holy Spirit,
with Your breath of new life
with Your passion, creativity and communication
with Your wisdom, justice and courage.
Fill our hearts, minds, lives, WOC and our Church with Your gifts.
May we communicate in ways that draw others to You and
into this mission of equality, of life-giving partnerships
and living into our vocations.
May each of us know what it is You are calling us to do in Your great plan.
May we trust and courageously act – one step at a time.
May we be of one heart and mind on this important issue facing our Church and world,
Make us… and our Church anew.
Come Holy Spirit -
in Jesus’ holy name
we hope and pray and trust.
Amen
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