It was a joy to gather with hundreds in the Cathedral on Tuesday 13 December as we celebrated 30 years of the Priestly ministry of Women in this Diocese.
Bishop Kate Prowd led the service and presided at the Eucharist, 30 years to the day since her own Ordination as Priest on 13 December 1992. In her sermon, Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy reminded all women in ministry of their continuing role and purpose in God’s Church.
“We are at the centre of God’s purpose, and purposeful.”
The Most Revd Kay Goldsworthy AO, Archbishop of Perth
Archbishop Kay also paid tribute to the earlier pioneers or ‘matriarchs’ who were no longer here, including the Revd Elizabeth Alfred and Bishop Barbara Darling – the first women to serve as Bishop in the Province of Victoria.
The Revd Clem Taplin, who was ordained Priest on the 16 December 1992, read a message from the former Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Keith Rayner, who led the first Ordination of Women as Priests. In his letter, Bishop Keith said the ordination of women had “led to a gentler, more inclusive church, better attuned to the needs of the age.”
If you missed the service, a recording is available to watch here.
