Dr. Margaret E. Towner is the first woman ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. For the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the largest reformed denomination in America, 2005 and 2006 mark special anniversaries for women in leadership, including the 100th anniversary of women as deacons, the 75th anniversary of women as ruling elders and the 50th anniversary of women as ministers of Word and Sacrament.In celebrating such landmarks, the PC(USA) hosted a two-day conference on womens ministry at the McCormick Theological Seminary in downtown Chicago last week.The Nov. 5-7 Womens Ordination Celebration, one of four events being held for the occasion, featured workshops, Bible Studies, banquets and seminars led by some of the best-known Presbyterian women leaders.The following are excerpts from an interview with the Rev. Part of what causes the glass ceiling is the stereotypes.We have a long way to go for women to be accepted as heads of staff (senior pastors), and there are still women who are saying we are not there yet. Not all women are literate now, but we are working to obliterate that.Some people take scripture literally and think God actually wrote each letter rather than it being a human being inspired by God in the situation.Yes, she was the very first witness to Christs resurrection. Presbyterian Religious Events and People in American History Religious Groups Presbyterian-Reformed Family: Other ARDA Links Photographs Ordination of Margaret Ellen Towner, 1956- Presbyterian Historical Society, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (Philadelphia, PA) Book/Journal Source(s) Krugler, John and David Weinberg-Kinsey, 1990. (Photo by Jim Nedelka)NEW YORK — On Saturday, March 7, the eve of International Women’s Day, the The Rev. The Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., also known as the PCUSA or “Northern” church, ordained its first female minister, Margaret Towner, in 1956. Last year commemorated the 50th anniversary of her ordination, another important event in Presbyterian history. Dr. Margaret Towner offers a prayer on the anniversary of her ordination. It really depends on the individual and how much she is able to break down the stereotypes and barriers.It was after I was out of college and working in some churches in New York. Every page goes through The source code for the WIKI 2 extension is being checked by specialists of the Mozilla Foundation, Google, and Apple. In 1965, the Hanover Presbytery in Virginia ordained Rachel Henderlite the first woman to be so … There are experienced and new clergywomen, ruling elders and deacons, who are charting new paths in this changing environment in the church.We follow in the footsteps of many named and unnamed women who have steadily and faithfully spread the good news of Jesus Christ, and they have significantly impacted our church, our community, and the American culture.The Rev. Aisha Brooks-Lytle from Wayne (Pennsylvania) Presbyterian Church preaches at the 2016 Next Church gathering in Atlanta. They would ask, Could women handle it? Margaret Ellen Towner was born March 19, 1925, in Columbia, Missouri, to Milton Carsley Towner and Dorothy Marie (Schloeman) Towner.Even though the PCUSA was not yet ordaining women as ministers, change was in the air, and the pastor at First Presbyterian Church suggested that Towner should explore the ministry. Im also speaking at congregations that invite me both large and small. There were many times where I would just run over to the hospital, and arrive there just the moment a family was very disparate. There was caution, and I felt I needed to be aggressive but patient and gentle in terms of helping people get to know me and accept the idea of an ordained woman.The United Church of Christ, the American Baptists and the United Church of Christ had been ordaining women for quite a few years, and I felt we needed to do it, but slowly.When there were comments made that might have been a little demeaning or insulting, I would let them slide down my back because I thought if I struck back, people would say, Aha!