The Legacy of the Philadelphia Eleven

Let us not forget their names:

• The Rev. Merrill Bittner
• The Rev. Alla Bozarth
• The Rev. Alison Cheek
• The Rev. Emily C Hewitt
• The Rev. Carter Heyward
• The Rev. Suzanne R. Hiatt
• The Rev. Marie Moorefield Fleischer
• The Rev. Jeanette Piccard
• The Rev. Betty Bone Schiess
• The Rev. Katrina Welles Swanson
• The Rev. Nancy Hatch Wittig

The Philadelphia 11 on July 29, 1974. File photo / Episcopal Church Archives

For centuries, the Christian church had traditions which created barriers for gender equality in clergy roles. But in 1974, a major event challenging these traditions occurred in an Episcopal church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The above named eleven women were ordained priests on July 29 of that year. This unorthodox ordination challenged the centuries old traditions and paved the way for future inclusion of all genders in the ordination process. The group of ordinands, known as the Philadelphia Eleven, sparked a contentious debate that resonated far beyond the church’s walls.

Before the 1970s, ordination to the priesthood was typically reserved for men, grounded in interpretations of biblical texts and theological traditions that excluded women from leadership positions within the church hierarchy. At the 1970 General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the vote supported women being ordained as deacons. This shift signaled a significant step towards gender inclusivity in clergy roles and set the stage for continued debate and anticipated action regarding the ordination of women to the priesthood.

On July 29, 1974, at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, these eleven women were ordained as priests by three retired bishops who believed in the equality of women in ministry. This act was a direct challenge to The Episcopal Church’s official stance, which had not yet authorized the ordination of women to the priesthood. After the 1974 ordinations, immediate controversy was sparked and drew widespread attention across the board. There were those, however, within the Episcopal church who rallied to support the ordination of women, which prompted further theological and legal discussions.

One of the retired bishops, Edward R. Wells II, was former bishop of The Diocese of West Missouri. His daughter was one among the 11 ordained women.

In 1976, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church officially voted to authorize the ordination of women to the priesthood, affirming the principle of gender equality in clergy roles. The legacy of the Philadelphia Eleven challenged entrenched norms, inspired a new generation of clergy, and laid the foundation for greater inclusivity and diversity within The Episcopal Church and beyond.

The journey of these eleven women should remind us that we should never consider this growing edge of inclusivity to be complete. The 1974 ordination further paved the way for the following women: Pauli Murray – who was the first African American woman to be ordained priest in The Episcopal church, Bishop Barbara Harris – an African American who became the first woman Bishop in the Anglican Communion, and last, but certainly not least – The Philadelphia 11 paved the way toward the installation in 2006 of the first female presiding bishop of the US Episcopal Church – Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. And the road continues to be paved for hundreds of other women – including the current Bishop Provisional of West Missouri – Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce.

One of the Philadelphia 11, The Rev Alla Bozarth, a published poet, wrote the following poem: