Women and the Church
Women's participation throughout the history of the Church of the Brethren has been somewhat constrained. Throughout the nineteenth century Brethren "Sisters" led prayer meetings, organized Christian education programs and were active missionaries both domestically and internationally. An 1891 Annual Meeting decision stated that women were part of the church with their husbands, but only as helpmates to them and not as contributors in their own right.
Women were not permitted to participate in the service of breaking bread, instead pieces of bread were handed to them This was rectified in a 1910 Annual Conference decision which allowed women full participation in Love Feast.
Participation for women in the Annual Meeting was also limited. They were unable to serve on the "Standing Committee" and the appointed committees included only men until the twentieth century. They were given their right to vote when a 1899 decision allowed women to be delegates to district meetings. Some members interpreted this decision as being applicable to the Annual Meeting as well, because in 1901 seven women became delegates to the meeting By 1915, twenty-four of forty-two district delegations included women
The 1952 Annual Conference asked for a greater representation of women on boards and committees and also decided that women could be ordained as pastors. Finally, the 1958 Annual Conference granted women full and unrestricted rights in the ministry
Although there are now no longer any official policies limiting women and the Church supports the equality of women and men as evidenced through its support of the Equal Rights Amendment (1970 Annual Conference Resolution on Equality for Women), Women's Caucus serves as an advocate for women and issues of marginalization which still exist today on an un-official level. Since the introduction of the 1970 Equality for Women Resolution, Womaen's Caucus has encouraged an affirmative action statement, pushed for a 1977 "Equality For Women" paper which affirms women's roles in leadership and ministry, and also helped to guide the church to a General Board policy on inclusive language.
Women's participation throughout the history of the Church of the Brethren has been somewhat constrained. Throughout the nineteenth century Brethren "Sisters" led prayer meetings, organized Christian education programs and were active missionaries both domestically and internationally. An 1891 Annual Meeting decision stated that women were part of the church with their husbands, but only as helpmates to them and not as contributors in their own right.
Women were not permitted to participate in the service of breaking bread, instead pieces of bread were handed to them This was rectified in a 1910 Annual Conference decision which allowed women full participation in Love Feast.
Participation for women in the Annual Meeting was also limited. They were unable to serve on the "Standing Committee" and the appointed committees included only men until the twentieth century. They were given their right to vote when a 1899 decision allowed women to be delegates to district meetings. Some members interpreted this decision as being applicable to the Annual Meeting as well, because in 1901 seven women became delegates to the meeting By 1915, twenty-four of forty-two district delegations included women
The 1952 Annual Conference asked for a greater representation of women on boards and committees and also decided that women could be ordained as pastors. Finally, the 1958 Annual Conference granted women full and unrestricted rights in the ministry
Although there are now no longer any official policies limiting women and the Church supports the equality of women and men as evidenced through its support of the Equal Rights Amendment (1970 Annual Conference Resolution on Equality for Women), Women's Caucus serves as an advocate for women and issues of marginalization which still exist today on an un-official level. Since the introduction of the 1970 Equality for Women Resolution, Womaen's Caucus has encouraged an affirmative action statement, pushed for a 1977 "Equality For Women" paper which affirms women's roles in leadership and ministry, and also helped to guide the church to a General Board policy on inclusive language.