Mer om uppropet om kvinnliga diakoner/präster i Rom idag...

Women's Ordination Advocates Hold Press Conference During Vatican Year for Priests celebration,
Vigil Calling on Pope to Ordain Women

ROME, ITALY – Today, at 11:00 o’clock in the office of redazione di ADISTA, Via Acciaioli 7, 00186 Roma, representatives of Catholic organizations from around the world called for the full and equal participation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination as deacons, priests and bishops. The remarks came during a press conference held by Women’s Ordination Worldwide and other pro-ordination groups held in Rome to protest the Vatican’s “Year for Priests” celebration, which begins tomorrow. After the press conference, the groups staged a vigil in St. Peter’s Square.

“The absolute hypocrisy of the ‘Year for Priests’ celebration cuts to the core of what is wrong with the hierarchy today,” said Erin Saiz Hanna, executive director of the U.S. based Women’s Ordination Conference. “The Vatican is all too happy to turn a blind eye when men in its ranks destroy the lives of children and families, but jumps at the chance to excommunicate women who, in good conscience, are prophetically answering their call to ordination and responding to needs of their communities.”

On June 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared a ‘Year for Priests’ to celebrate and honor the male, clerical, priesthood. From June 9-11, 2010, the year-long celebration culminates with an international gathering of priests hosted by Pope Benedict in Rome to pay tribute to their work.

“At the end of a disappointing ‘Year for Priests’ and a disastrous year for the Roman Catholic Church we call for a Decade of the People of God,” stated Angelika Fromm, representative from International Movement We are Church and the Purple Stole Movement in Germany. “The current global crisis within the church demonstrates that the clerical hierarchy alone can’t serve any longer as the foundation of the Catholic church's institutional structure and authority.” Fromm continued, “Our church urgently needs large numbers of male and female pastors to serve our parishes. Charisma should be important, not gender.”
FULL STATEMENT OF ANGELIKA FROMM in English, French, Italian, and German: http://www.we-are-church.org/int/

Therese Koturbash, a Canadian lawyer and International Coordinator of the womenpriests.org campaign, stated, “Thanks to historical research, we now know conclusively that women did receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, at least in the diaconate. And we know that the Council of Trent stated clearly that the diaconate is part of Holy Orders. However, somewhere along the way, the door to women slammed shut.” Koturbash continued, “During this ‘Year for Priests,’ we have asked that women’s historical service in Holy Orders be remembered and that reforms be put in motion to welcome women into priesthood! Women can and should be priests.”

Mary Ann M. Schoettly, ordained through Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP), an international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church that advocates for a new model of priestly ministry, stated, “After years of considerable study and reflection, the women of RCWP are following their well formed consciences and accepting the gift of ordination.”

According to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, in a statement published on May 29, 2008 published in L'Observatorio Romano, the Vatican’s official newspaper, all Roman Catholic Womenpriests and the bishops who ordain them are automatically excommunicated, known as latae sententiae.

Schoettly continued, “Roman Catholic Womenpriests reject the penalty of excommunication. We are loyal members of the church who stand in the prophetic tradition of holy obedience to the Spirit’s call to change an unjust law that discriminates against us.”

“The discrimination against women in faith communities and in particular by the Catholic Church underpins the violence against women in everyday life,” stated Mary Leslie of Catholic Women's Ordination, UK.

Colette Joyce from New Wine, another UK based group, continued, “It is very difficult for a Catholic woman active in her own parish and community to come forward and say this is her calling because there is nowhere for her to take it. I want to talk to the leaders of my church about women’s ordination – not journalists – but every time I try the door is continually being closed.”

In 1976, the Biblical Commission of Pope Paul VI determined there was no scriptural reason to prohibit women’s ordination. Despite the Commission’s finding, the pope issued a statement later that year declaring the Vatican is not authorized to ordain women. In 1994, Pope John Paul II officially closed discussion of the subject. Today, an overwhelming Catholics support the issue, yet people who work for the church can be fired if they even talk about women priests.

“For far too long, only ordained, male, celibate clergy have dictated -or tried to dictate- how Catholics worship, pray and make decisions,” concluded Hanna. “Canon 1024, which states that only men can validly receive the sacrament of ordination, is unjust and does not value the gospel message of Jesus. It must be changed.”

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Kvinnliga diakoner/präster - pressrelease

Commemorating Ordained Women During The Year of the Priest

‘A document that provides the names and biographical details of women who were ordained deacons in the Early Church will be handed to Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on June 8, 2010. The presentation will be made by dignitaries of international Catholic groups. It happens in the context of the Catholic Church’s concluding celebrations for the Year of the Priest. The representatives will ask the Pope to give formal recognition to the women’s historical diaconate and to begin the reforms needed to include women in priesthood.’ A press conference in Rome’s ADISTA news agency will follow at 11 am that day. A demonstration in Saint Peter’s Square to raise awareness about women’s call to priesthood will also be held.

Historical Background

Historical records document the service of tens of thousands of ordained women deacons in parishes during the first millennium of the Church (Romans 16, 1; 1 Tim 3, 8-11). Their service is witnessed in literary records and inscriptions on tombs. Some women deacon saints are commemorated in the current liturgical calendar. Ongoing historical research now makes many of these women known to us by name. Ancient manuscripts preserve the exact rite of their ordination (for more, see: womenpriests.org/deacons/default.asp).

Why is the Vatican is Suppressing the Historical Facts

Analysis of the woman deacons ordination rite shows that it was a true sacrament with a bishop laying hands on the candidate and invoking the Holy Spirit. In all essentials it was identical to the one for men deacons. This means women did receive Holy Orders. This evidence gives further supports to the case which says there is no justification for the exclusion of women from Holy Orders, ie priesthood today. It is known that on July 15, 1563 the Council of Trent defined that the diaconate as much as the priesthood and the episcopacy belongs to the sacrament of Holy Orders. ‘If anyone says that in the Catholic Church there does not exist a hierarchy, established through divine ordination, which consists of bishops, priests and deacons, let him be anathema.’ (Denzinger no 966).

Women as Priests?

In an interview, Therese Koturbash, a Canadian lawyer and International Coordinator of Women Can Be Priests! womenpriests.org confirms: ‘Thanks to historical research, we now know conclusively that women did receive the sacrament of Holy Orders in our faith tradition. But somewhere along the way, the door to women slammed shut. Those ordained women deacons have been forgotten in this year’s celebrations [for the Year of the Priest.] Today the Vatican justifies exclusion of women from priesthood by saying that we don’t look like Christ. This kind of thinking is new to Catholic faith. It is unorthodox theology. Christ teaches that we see His face in every person we meet,’ she said. ‘What has become clear is that ancient unChristlike prejudice against women has crept into the Church and bars women from priesthood today. Little more than one hundred years ago, the Vatican maintained that slavery was willed by God. We don’t want this same kind of mistake to continue about the dignity of women. During this Year of the Priest, we have asked that women’s historical service in Holy Orders be remembered and that reforms be put in motion to welcome women into priesthood! Women can and should be priests!’

The Document Containing the Names of the Ordained Women:

The document to be presented to the Pope is based on historical research and was compiled by a Team working under the direction of Dr. John Wijngaards at womenpriests.org in England. The team is made up of faithful Catholics who believe that women should be ordained. They are working to help make that happen.

International dignitaries who will be present at the function include Therese Koturbash (UK and Canada), International Coordinator womenpriests.org and National Work Group member of Canada’s Catholic Network for Women’s Equality (CNWE), Erin Saiz Hanna (USA), President of Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC), Colette Joyce (UK), New Wine, along with others from countries around the world including Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Japan and other countries.

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Kvinnligt katolskt diakonat på gång att återinföras?

Påvens senaste Motu Proprio kan tyda på det. Och det vore ju bra, ett första steg på vägen tillbaka till det vi har förlorat för länge sedan.

Genom att man, som i dokumentet, skiljer mellan diakonat och prästämbete som separata ämbeten där inte det ena per automatik leder till det andra, kan man låta diakoner agera som Guds avbild (in imago Dei), medan enbart präster får agera i Kristi ställe (in persona Christi). Därigenom kan även kvinnor komma att få "vara med och leka". Bara som diakoner då. Eftersom de tyvärr inte har Kristi absolut viktigaste och mest upphöjda (?) "egenskap": att han var man.

Fortfarande är det hela teologiskt uppåt väggarna. Hur tjusigt man än formulerar det så är endast Gud den Gud är, och vi alla övriga är människor, ingen blir mer Guds avbild än någon annan genom en vigningsakt, utan i så fall genom ett heligt liv. Och den som iklädd en ämbetstitel utger sig för att handla i Kristi ställe bör inte bidra till att diskriminera halva mänskligheten. Det blir helt enkelt inte trovärdigt... Hur stora guldkors och tygstycken man än bär omkring på.

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Från Catholic News Agency:

"According to J.D. Flynn, a canon lawyer for the Archdiocese of Denver, the new document clarifies the nature of a deacon's orders and the impact of defections from Catholicism on the validity of a marriage.

"Omnium in Mentum," roughly translated as "Everything in Mind," deals with two unrelated topics, a fact that caused Flynn to observe that it's probably easier to publish one Motu Propio than two.

Writing in an explanatory note for the Motu Proprio, Archbishop Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, commented on the modified canons (1008, 1009, 1086, 1117 and 1124). These variations, he said, "concern two separate questions: adapting the text of the canons that define the ministerial function of deacons ... and suppressing a subordinate clause in three canons concerning marriage, which experience has shown to be inappropriate."

The first issue addressed by the Motu Propio is the role of the diaconate.

Part of the current canon "describes sacred orders as participating in the headship of Christ," Flynn explained. "The Motu Proprio clarifies that priests and bishops participate in the headship of Christ 'in persona Christi,' whereas deacons serve the Church, the people of God, through the ministry, services, or 'diaconias' of liturgy, word, and charity." Thus, Flynn said, the document emphasizes that there is a "clear distinction between the diaconate and the presbyterate."

"The distinction is between the deacon who acts "in imago Dei" and the priest who acts 'in persona Christi,'" Flynn explained.

What this means in layman's terms is that "we see the diaconate as a unique ministry unto itself and not simply a step along the way to the priesthood," he added."

Läs mer i den här bloggen.

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Ed Peters (canon lawyer) skriver så här om det i sin blogg:

"Now, about the first change announced today, that dealing with the description of deacons under canon law (cc. 1108-1109), it is really interesting, obviously, and I need time to study it. The language here obviously does not seem to underscore the unity that permeates the three level of holy orders, but (per Abp. Francesco Coccopalmerio of the Text Council) it is more consistent with the language of CCC 1581, as it was revised in 1998. In any case, I'll certainly be consulting the auctores probati on this one."

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Uppdatering:

Läs mer här och här.

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Kvinnor i Ortodoxa kyrkan

Läste en väldigt intressant artikel skriven av Elisabeth Behr-Sigel, Ortodox teolog.

Den tar bl.a. upp frågan om vigning av kvinnor.

Skulle nästan kunna slå vad om att det kommer att återinföras där snabbare än i Katolska kyrkan... Och utan några problem heller. Eftersom ingen patriark (väl?) har uttalat sig emot detta.

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"An important step was taken when, during the second half of the twentieth century, women were first admitted as students to the schools of theology in different local Orthodox Churches, notably in Greece and in the diaspora in France and the United States. Now they are beginning to teach in these schools of theology. Women as Orthodox theologians participate in ecumenical dialogue at all levels, notably in the heart of the ecumenical World Council of Churches. This has led to an enlightening paradox: an Orthodox Christian woman who has the training and the competence could teach the New Testament in a prestigious theology department like that of the University of Thessalonika, but she would not be able to read the Gospel in the assembly of people of God. An Orthodox theological conference unanimously proclaimed that, "all acts denying the dignity of the human person, all discrimination between men and women based on gender, is a sin," but access to the altar remains forbidden to women.

Today the question concerning the access of women to the sacramental ministry is addressed to the Orthodox Church more from the outside, in the context of ecumenical dialogues. But it has also become an internal problem for serious theologians - men and women - in light of the contradictions posed by the changing roles of women in the Church. From the first international conferences of Orthodox women at the monastery of Agapia in Romania (1976), and later at the Orthodox Academy of Crete (1989), the issue of the ordination of women has been examined seriously and calmly. At the inter-Orthodox consultation of Rhodes (1988) on the ordination of women and the place of women in the Church, a consultation convoked and organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the decision to restore the diaconate for women was unanimously adopted. More recently, this same wish was energetically revisited by the Orthodox Christian women who met at Damascus (October 1996) and in Istanbul (May 1997) for conferences organized around the Gospel saying "interpret the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3).

"One of the essential problems facing theologians today is to know how to distinguish between the Holy Tradition of the Church, the adequate expression of Revelation, and the human traditions which express themselves only imperfectly and very often are in opposition to Holy Tradition and obscure it," wrote Father John Meyendorff of blessed memory, in a book published thirty-five years ago but still current and recently reedited. We are growing in numbers, men and women Orthodox theologians who call for an end to certain "traditional" practices of our historical churches regarding women: practices marked, as stated in the conclusions of the Consultation of Rhodes, "owing to human weakness and sinfulness, Christian communities have not always and in all places been able to express effectively ideas, manners, and customs, historical developments and social conditions which have resulted in practical discrimination against women.

Läs hela artikeln här.

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Elisabeth själv verkar ha varit en alldeles fantastisk kvinna - önskar att jag hade fått träffa henne - hon känns som en tvillingsjäl på många sätt - inte minst i fråga om kvinnor och ekumenik, och så har vi samma sinne för humor, och inte minst så kan man ju undra varför hon firade sin 95-årsdag just i Karmel... :-)

"After retiring, Elisabeth devoted much time and energy to the promotion of women in the Orthodox Church — respectfully, almost humbly, but with firm conviction and solid theological arguments. She helped create an awareness that women had been relegated to an inferior status that was not according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had to change.

Though challenging Orthodoxy on many fronts, she was always a faithful and loving daughter of her church — without stridency or bitterness or animosity and often with a mischievous sense of humor which kept her opponents off guard.

/.../

Elisabeth’s ecumenism was not simply theoretical. She moved with ease among the different Christian traditions, always seeing the positive, always curious and ready to learn. Her 95th birthday was celebrated in the Carmelite convent of St. Elie in Central France with the presence of two Orthodox bishops, a Greek Catholic Bishop, the vicar generals of three Catholic dioceses and several eminent Protestant pastors. This, in itself, was a magnificent testimony of their esteem for this diminutive grandmother whose love embraced them all and brought them together. It was a way of recognizing that, in her, the Christian unity so desired and prayed for had been realized — hopefully, prophetically."

Läs mer om henne här.

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Should Catholic women be ordained?

I asked that question in a quick poll recently. 87 persons answered before it closed. And the result was as follows.

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Yes, absolutely - to all ministries! 51 (58%)

Yes, but only as deacons. 10 (11%)

No way! 22 (25%)

I have no idea... 4 (4%)

***

69% are thus positive to ordination of women (to all ministries or as deacons). While only 22% are strongly against. And 4% are uncertain.

So this little survey shows similar numbers as other surveys. The result is usually 60-80% in favor of ordination of women (as priests).

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Kvinnliga diakoner i den tidiga kyrkan

Fick ett nyhetsbrev om det just precis...

Ett utdrag:

"We have been asked many times why we call for a reinstatement of the diaconate for women. After much research, we have amassed evidence to prove that there were women deacons in the early church. The ordination of women deacons in the early Greek and Syriac speaking dioceses was clearly a real, sacramental ordination, equal to the ordination of male deacons based on the fact that in the ordination rituals, both the ordination of a deacon and of a deaconess is called cheirotonia, i.e. Greek for 'imposition of hands', 'ordination' and both the male and the female deacon are ordained by the Bishop.

There is plenty of evidence that women were ordained as deacons. Tens of thousands of women deacons served in parishes during the first millennium as is witnessed by literary records, inscriptions on tombs and 22 women deacon saints in the current liturgical calendar. At least 106 women deacons are known to us by name and ancient manuscripts have preserved the exact rite or ordination of women deacons. For instance the tombstone of Athanasia (of Delphi) reads:

"The devoted deaconess Athanasia, who lived a blameless life decorously, installed as deaconess by the most holy bishop Pantamianos, set up this memorial."

/.../

Following the press conference, the Petition calling for the diaconate to be restored to women, which had been coordinated by http://www.womenpriests.org/ and signed by 26 organisations representing 40,000 people, and 1700 individuals was taken to hand in at the Bronze Doors of the Vatican. After being confronted by the police the petition was finally handed over to the top Vatican security officer who told the women politely that they could not go any further and that he would make sure the Petition reached the Pope! So far there has been no reaction from the Vatican, so it has been decided to keep the petition alive collecting signatures until the Pope responds. The hierarchy must be awakened to the reality that it would neither be sacrilegious, contrary to nature nor a departure from sanctified Church law, to ordain women."

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Brev från en ung katolsk prästseminarist i Rom

Fick just läsa följande fantastiska brev apropå aktionen nyligen (där de som lämnade över skrivelsen om kvinnliga diakoner till påven även delade ut broschyrer om kvinnliga präster på Petersplatsen - och blev arresterade flera gånger av italiensk polis p.g.a. detta).

Läste brevet med tårar i ögonen. Tack, Gud, för de yngsta prästkandidaterna....!!!

Nedan är ett utdrag - läs hela brevet här.

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"I am a seminarian studying for the priesthood in Rome. You do not know who I am, but I met you in Rome. I was dressed casually and not wearing my clerical clothes. You handed me one of the WOC cards while I was crossing the street. I simply said thank you and kept on walking, not realizing what it was for at first.

I must tell you that I was so very impressed by how you, Erin Hanna, and the other women from WOC made your presence known in Rome in such a positive way. It is important for you to understand that your efforts were a great success, more than you realize. WOC has been out of Rome for almost two weeks now and you are still being talked about at my seminary and I am still seeing your cards and pamphlets around the city. You inspired many women and men about their faith and women's equality within our Church.

I will tell you in complete confidence that many of the young seminarians between the ages of 21-35 years old support (privately, of course) the ordination of Catholic women in the Church. It is mostly the older seminarians and priests that have a lot of difficulty with such an idea.

What impressed me and other seminarians about your group's presence in Rome is the fact that you led the protests in a very respectful and peaceful manner, yet you were very effective and became "the talk of the town" so to speak.

I can provide you with information about the topics of conversation in the seminary, including the ordination of women. I will say that many of the older priests and seminarians are truly afraid of WOC and their continued success in our Church and culture, mainly because they do not like change. However, many unfortunately, also still hold some very sexist views of women.

One thing I've learned from growing up with sisters is to respect women -- ALWAYS -- and I certainly do. I believe that many women would make excellent, holy priests in our Catholic Church. The gift, talents and charisma that many women could bring to the office of priesthood are innumerable."

***

Uppdatering:

Följande är vad Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) gjorde i Rom (ur deras nyhetsbrev):

"Generated international media coverage of the women's ordination movement in more than 100 media outlets around the world, including Associated Press, International Herald Tribune, Univision, and the major press agencies in Germany and Italy. News of our campaign reached Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Nicaragua, the U.K., Vatican City and more (see below for details).

Distributed over 1,000 stickers and over 600 fliers to visitors in St. Peter's Square, including many priests and women religious.

Raised public awareness around Rome and in Vatican City, by carrying our banner and by wearing "Ordain Women" t-shirts in nine languages.

Educated Catholics about the archaeological sites depicting women's leadership in early Christianity by arranging a slide show presentation and organizing a tour of the sites.

Throughout the week, we and our coalition partners became well-known in Vatican City. We were highly visible, holding a banner stating "Ordain Catholic Women," wearing our purple stoles, and sporting "Ordain Women" buttons and t-shirts in English, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. All along our route, we handed out fliers in six languages citing the reasons to ordain women. Hundreds of women and men smiled and nodded to us, and we educated many about WOC and the need for women's ordination.

Our conversations with Roman Catholics from around the world reinforced what we knew all along - that a majority of Catholics the world over support women's ordination. We engaged in noteworthy dialogue with three young seminarians, who by the end of our conversation, agreed that women's ordination should at the very least be open for discussion.

/.../

WOC's campaign succeeded beyond our expectations, and our presence reverberated throughout the streets of Rome. On our final day in St. Peter's Square handing out literature on women's ordination, Erin and I were detained one final time. When we told the Italian police officer that we were headed back to the U.S. the following day, he shouted, "Thanks be to God!" We took it as a compliment. Our hard work had paid off, as the Vatican had taken notice of our campaign."

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Överlämnandet av diakonpetitionen - så gick det...

Det var alltså den 15:e oktober som det följande skedde. Tydligen kom petitionen ända fram till sist - direkt till påven... Och det var väl ändå huvudsaken....

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ROME, Italy - Yesterday, at 6:00 o'clock, the Italian police stopped representatives of Catholic organizations from around the world as they walked into St. Peter's Square to deliver a petition calling for the restoration of women's ordination to the diaconate. The group was holding a banner saying "Ordain Catholic Women" and handing out educational materials. A total of thirteen members of the Italian and Vatican police gathered to question the eleven representatives. After taking their materials, the Italian police demanded their passports and called the Vatican police, who sent their chief. According to a member of the Italian police, this was the first time in 15 years the chief came to question demonstrators. He did not allow them to deliver the petition to the Portone di Bronzo but said he would deliver it to the pope himself. Earlier in the day, the group brought the same banner and materials into the Square without getting stopped by the police. The representatives are in Rome during the Synod of Bishops on the Bible, calling for the full and equal participation of women in the Roman Catholic Church, including ordination as deacons, priests and bishops.

"Our peaceful action did not merit the extreme reaction of the police-sending the chief down to interrogate us while seizing our passports," stated Aisha Taylor, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference. "However, I was not surprised. Time and again, when it comes to women's role in the Church, the Vatican overreacts and demonstrates just how fearful they are about the growing support for women's ordination."

Läs mer här.

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Återinförande av kvinnligt katolskt diakonat...?

Fick följande pressrelease igår...

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Reinstating the Diaconate for Women

An international Petition to the Pope asking for reinstatement of the ordained women’s diaconate will be handed in to the Vatican on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. A press conference in the ADISTA news agency in Rome will follow at 11 am that day. Dignitaries representing signatory organizations from around the world and representatives from various countries will be present at the function. A demonstration in Saint Peter’s Square by women dressed in ancient Greek/Hellenist clothing representing women deacons of the early Church will also be held.

Historical Background

It is historically documented that the diaconate of women existed in the Church since Apostolic times (Romans 16, 1; 1 Tim 3, 8-11). Tens of thousands of women deacons served in parishes during the first millennium as is witnessed in literary records, inscriptions on tombs and twenty two women deacon saints in the current liturgical calendar. Hundreds of women deacons are known to us by name. Ancient manuscripts have preserved the exact rite of ordination of women deacons (for more, see: http://womenpriests.org/deacons/default.asp)

Why is the Vatican is Suppressing the Historical Facts

Analysis of the ordination rite shows that the ordination of women deacons was a true sacrament with a bishop laying hands on the candidate and invoking the Holy Spirit. In all essentials the ordination of female deacons was identical to that of male deacons -- the sacramentality of whose ordination cannot be disputed. This means women did receive Holy Orders. For on July 15, 1563 the Council of Trent defined that the diaconate, as much as the priesthood and the episcopacy belongs to the sacrament of Holy Orders. "If anyone says that in the Catholic Church there does not exist a hierarchy, established through divine ordination, which consists of bishops, priests and deacons, let him be anathema." (Denzinger no 966).

Break with Tradition?

In an interview, John Wijngaards, author of Women Deacons in the Early Church:Historical Texts and Contemporary Debates (Continuum 2006) confirms: "In no way can the official Church claim that ordaining women deacons would be a break with tradition. The diaconate for women is needed today as much as it ever has been. Hundreds of thousands of women all over the world perform pastoral ministries that should be supported by the sacramental grace of ordination," he said.

Signatories:

Signatories of the Petition include at least twenty six international Catholic movements representing a membership of more than 40,000 people. In addition, more than fifteen hundred individuals have endorsed the Petition.

A text of the Petition (in six major languages used in the Church: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Dutch) can be found here: http://womenpriests.org/dreamshareact/phpPETITION/ The exact details of the signatories can be found here: http://www.womenpriests.org/dreamshareact/phpPetition/results.php

Signatory representatives who will be present at the function include Jennifer Stark (UK), Coordinator of Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW), Aisha Taylor (USA), President of Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC), Anne Brown (UK), New Wine, along with others from countries around the world including Austria, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Japan and other countries.

Contact:

Jos Rickman housetop@btconnect.com tel +44 1923 779446

Therese Koturbash shaburtok@yahoo.ca tel +1 204 622 7002

Website: http://www.womendeacons.org/

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