The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Movement for the Ordination of Women

Tuesday May 13

Six women, including four women priests and a bishop, at a conference

40 years of national women’s ordination advocacy to be celebrated at Brisbane conference

Australian and international Christians are set to gather in Brisbane for the 40th anniversary of the national Movement for the Ordination of Women at a conference in November

Large group of Anglican archbishops and bishops gathered in the sanctuary area of a cathedral high altar

Cathedral bells ring for Sarah Plowman, consecrated bishop for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland

Cathedral bells pealed out across Brisbane last night as Sarah Plowman was consecrated bishop in a packed St John’s Anglican Cathedral, becoming the second woman bishop for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland

Movement for the Ordination of Women Annual General Meeting in 1995, with Janet Scarf (MOW National President 1989-1995), Dr Patricia Brennan (MOW National President 1983-1989) and Patricia Hayward (newly elected)

Movement for the Ordination of Women: history, origins and key figures

“The driving force behind the Movement for the Ordination of Women in Australia was Dr Patricia Brennan…As a woman and a lay person, Patricia was not permitted to preach during a visit to Brisbane. The then–Dean got around this restriction by concluding Evensong with a lengthy procession around the Cathedral, after which Patricia entered the pulpit and spoke,” says The Rev’d Canon Dr Marian Free

Churchie celebrates the ordination of women

The 30th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Anglican Church of Australia was celebrated at Churchie recently with a special visit from The Rev’d Jocelyn Pitt to the Preparatory School chapel services

The Rev’d Canon Dr Marian Free reflects on 25 years since ordination

When The Rev’d Canon Dr Marian Free felt God calling her to the priesthood in the early 1980s, women could not be ordained in the Anglican Church in Australia. Despite this obstacle, she held fast to her call and mission, becoming a founding member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women in Brisbane