Women’s History and Role in the Presbyterian Church

by Luceal Curry

The role of women in the Presbyterian Church has evolved over the years, reflecting broader societal changes and developments within the church itself. The ordination of women in the Presbyterian Church was a long and contested process, facing opposition from various segments of the denomination.

It is interesting to consider that all members of “the Presbyterian Church” were not members of the same “church.” The Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) and the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) were two separate Presbyterian denominations that existed independently for many years before a reunion in 1983. 

Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. They were among the earliest Reformed immigrants to America. They settled up and down the East Coast, and began to push westward into the American wilderness, founding congregations as early as the 1630s. In 1706, seven Presbyterian ministers formed the first Presbyterian presbytery in the New World. The clergy assumed the freedom to organize and the right to worship, preach, teach, and administer the sacraments. Growing population and immigration prompted the presbytery to organize a synod in 1717, with four constituent presbyteries. In 1788, the synod met in Philadelphia to form the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA).

The nineteenth century was also characterized by disagreement and division over theology, governance, and reform–particularly over the issue of slavery. The century saw the formation of additional denominations, such as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the United Presbyterian Church of North America. When the country could not reconcile the issue of slavery and the federal union, the southern Presbyterians split from the PCUSA, forming the PCCSA in 1861, which became the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS). The PCUSA tended to be more progressive theologically and socially, while the PCUS often reflected more conservative positions.

In 1983, the PCUSA and PCUS reunited to form the present-day Presbyterian Church (USA), bringing together northern and southern branches after more than a century of separation. The reunion aimed to overcome divisions that had existed since the Civil War. The merged denomination adopted the name “Presbyterian Church (USA)” to reflect the unity of the two previously separate bodies.

So, what did this mean for women in the church?

Early Years and Limited Participation: In the early years of the Presbyterian Church, women’s roles were often limited to supportive and auxiliary roles. They were active in charitable and missionary work but were generally excluded from formal leadership positions.

Missionary and Educational Work: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, women were actively involved in missionary and educational endeavors. They played a crucial role in establishing and supporting schools, hospitals, and social services.

 Ordination of Women as Deacons: Some Presbyterian churches began to allow women to serve as deacons in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This marked a step toward greater inclusion of women in leadership roles.

Louisa Mariah Layman Woosley (March 24, 1862 – June 30, 1952) was the first woman ordained as a minister in any Presbyterian denomination. Woosley, a Cumberland Presbyterian from Kentucky  was ordained by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on November 5, 1889., Although the constitution of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church did not exclude women from ordination, neither did it include them. A great controversy developed in various church judicatories over the legality of her ordination. Eventually, the Kentucky Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church instructed Nolin Presbytery to remove Louisa Woosley from their rolls. This the presbytery did by granting her the status of minister in transitu (“lettering her out” in presbyterian terms) to another presbytery. Clearly, although Nolin Presbytery complied with the instructions of the superior judicatory, they had denied their intent.

Louisa Woosley, with the aid of various Kentucky presbyteries sympathetic to her cause, outlasted the synodic objection to her ordination. In 1906, the partial reunion of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Presbyterian Church USA removed some of the most vocal opposition to the ordination of women. Although the official position of the denomination remained unchanged, clergy women were able to participate in all levels of polity without a great deal of opposition. In 1920, the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination ruled that the word “man” as used in its constitution was to be considered as a gender-neutral reference to a human being. More recently gender inclusive language came into broader use in the denomination.

Ordination of Women as Elders: The ordination of women as elders, who share in the leadership and decision-making responsibilities of the church, became more widespread in the PCUSA in 1930. This represented a significant shift toward recognizing women’s capabilities in both spiritual and administrative roles.

In 1930, Tillie Paul Tamaree was the first Native American woman elected as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Before her election, Tillie Paul worked as a translator, civil rights advocate, and missionary educator within the Tlingit community in the Pacific Northwest. In becoming a ruling elder, she paved the way for future generations of proud Native American women leaders such as Elona Street-Stewart, the first Native American to serve as a synod executive and co-moderator of the General Assembly.

Ordination of Women as Ministers: The ordination of women as ministers faced resistance in many denominations, including the Presbyterian Church. However, over time, attitudes changed, and more churches began to accept and support the ordination of women as pastors. The first woman to be ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) was Rev. Margaret Towner in 1956, at the First Presbyterian Church in Marion, IN. In a 1978 interview, she reflected on her experiences as a minister, saying that “There’s still people who are offended by [ordained women] because they go back literally to First Corinthians and, you know, women should not speak in church, et cetera. I think that is getting less and less.” And now, in 2024, the rev. Dr. Towner is a member of our own Peace River Presbytery. She will be 100 years old in March of 2025.

The Rev. Dr. Rachel Henderlite paralleled Towner’s journey, becoming the first woman ordained in the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1965. Despite such progress, many Presbyterians refused to support women leaders. Henderlite received an annual letter from a retired pastor in South Carolina with a message about the ordination of women: “[It] is a grievous sin because it says in the Bible, ‘Let the women keep silent in the churches’.”  Henderlite would not be silenced and continued to heed the call of the Holy Spirit.

When the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon was ordained by Catawba Presbytery in 1974, she became the first Black woman minister in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA). A founding voice in Womanist theology, Cannon not only served behind the pulpit but spoke at the front of classrooms, teaching for years at Temple University and Union Presbyterian Seminary. In 2018, she founded the Center for Womanist Ethics at Union in Richmond; she died in August the same year. Her memory lives on through the many lives she influenced and touched.

In July of 2023, the Rev. Bronwen Boswell was appointed Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), following the retirement of the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II. In receiving that call, Boswell became the first woman Stated Clerk of the denomination. When asked by the news service about her new role, Boswell said, “I am humbled and excited by this opportunity to serve the denomination in this way. It truly is a call, by COGA [Committee on the Office of the General Assembly] and the Holy Spirit.” Like many Presbyterian women before her, she has risen to a position of leadership within the faith though resilience, passion, and the grace of God.

Leadership Roles and Representation: In recent decades, women in the Presbyterian Church have increasingly taken on leadership roles at all levels, including serving as moderators of governing bodies, pastors of congregations, and leaders in denominational organizations.

Concerns and Ongoing Discussions: Despite progress, challenges remain, and ongoing discussions within the church focus on issues such as gender equality, representation, and the acknowledgment of diverse gifts and talents.

Overall, the role of women in the Presbyterian Church has undergone a significant transformation, moving from limited participation to increased inclusion in leadership and ministry roles. While there has been progress, female ministers still face challenges such as criticism, sexism, and sexual harassment Today women make up 38% of active ordained ministers in the PCUSA. The trajectory reflects a broader movement toward recognizing and affirming the gifts and callings of women within the context of the church.

Celebrating Diversity Committee Team

Luceal Curry, Chairperson

Contributors: Luceal Curry and Gail South

Resources: Wikipedia and PCUSA Historical Society and Google Searches