Women's ministry, gifts and talents celebrated at ordination anniversary

By Bonnie LeBlanc

Last November Anglican and Lutheran clergy women from across this great country reflected the light of Christ in as many ways as we could, especially in our smiling faces and enthusiastic celebrations, as we gathered for the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women as priests in Canada. More than 60 of us gathered in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to worship, learn, sing, share, give thanks and be inspired.

The theme “Reflecting the light of Christ” spoke to the Rev. Laura McCue, a New Brunswick-born priest who ministers in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She wrote the conference theme song “We are Meant to Shine” and we sang it with great joy at our worship services. We led dancing in the aisles and shouted “Sing it again, Laura!” The entire congregation was enveloped “in the light.” This wonderful song is now sung in parishes across the country.

The Rev. Brenda McKnight and I were privileged to attend the conference from this diocese and hear Bishop Elaine Sauer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (Eastern Synod) deliver a life-giving sermon during the Eucharist at St. John’s Church on St. Andrews Day, Nov. 30. She told us that God chose us not to shape us with a uniform mold, but to use our individual experiences, personalities, gifts and talents to be Christ's messengers and ministers. She recognized that our ministries had not always been appreciated, and acknowledged the courage and conviction of the women who had paved the way for us. Indeed she affirmed the ministries of clergy and congregations — all of us who live out our baptismal covenant every day. Her vision for the future is hopeful because the Lord reigns. In the church she sees Fresh Expressions, a new generation of women priests, and encouraging signs of new life and spiritual connection.

At the outset of her sermon Elaine asked who of us had had pedicures in preparation for the conference. There were chuckles as hands came up and heads nodded. “Self-care is important,” she said. “We are women, God chose us for who we are, and ‘how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’" She repeated that message several times.

The Rev. Dr. Eileen Scully of the Diocese of Huron was intended to be our keynote speaker but she was ill and unable to attend. She did, however, send her notes to Bishop Sue Moxley, of our host diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, who spoke for her. She encouraged us to faithfully live according to our baptismal and ordination covenants, seeking and serving Christ in all persons, with a particular concern for social justice and peace; ‘reflecting the light of Christ’ in and through our daily lives.

We enjoyed daily workshops on story telling for the soul, visual prayer and equipping clergy. A workshop called Shaping Images of Self and Others in Women's Ministry was an exercise in symbol and image creation with felt and wool. We even explored ordination as a scriptural reflection of using our senses.

My friend Laura McCue, who wrote the theme song for the conference that I mentioned above, and I co-led a workshop on music composition called How to Make a Joyful Noise.

We also participated in sharing circles with common questions for all the groups.

The Diocese of Huron was represented by 11 enthusiastic clergy, many of whom are of the “new generation.” They will host the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women in Huron in 2016, and extended a warm invitation to us all. They will do very well to find a venue as stunning as the town of Lunenburg on the south shore of Nova Scotia.

 

The Rev. Bonnie LeBlanc is priest-in-charge of the Parish of Andover.

 

17 January 2012
Diocesan Communications