Women Priests Promote Justice in Church, Kansas City Diocesan Official Challenges Georgia Walker ARCWP About Upcoming Ordination on Jan. 3, 2014 in KC

 On this Third Sunday of Advent, our second reading is from 1 Thessolonians 5:16-24.

"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus..."

Adrienne Alexander wrote in the Pax Christi Advent booklet, "A friend once told me that the marginalized have the most informed view of the world. This should not be a surprise because throughout the Bible God uses imperfect figures, those on the outskirts of society, to deliver messages or otherwise reveal God's work. (this week we hear from John the Baptist). And yet, it  is human to find ourselves dismissing people whom we don't view as legitimate, I can think of examples..."  

One example that hits close to home for me is the hierarchy's  response to women who are called to be priests. Georgia Walker, who will be ordained a priest in Kansas City on Jan. 3rd, received a call from an diocesan official   stating that if she went ahead  with ordination, she would  be excommunicated, and in danger of losing her immortal soul.  

My response is that our Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests acts out of deep love for our church. We are living prophetic obedience to the Spirit's call and that is the reason that we disobey an unjust man-made canon law. We are  leading the church, not leaving it. One with the community creation, we work for restorative justice and equality for all especially those on the margins. We are following Jesus, who broke the rules, by calling both women and men to be disciples and treated them as equals. The women disciples were the faithful followers who were present at the cross and the tomb. The Risen Christ appeared first to Mary of Magdala, not to Peter, thereby making her the apostle to the apostles. Therefore, the institutional church should follow Jesus' example and treat women as spiritual equals today. Our ARCWP vision is a renewed ordained ministry in a community of equals. We are creating  inclusive communities of faith where all are welcome to receive sacraments at the Banquet of love. So, we rejoice, pray and give thanks that God is calling us to live Gospel equality, united with the community of the baptized, now. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

You are invited to Liturgy of Ordination

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

Ordination to The Priesthood

Georgia K. Walker

Presiding Bishop

Bridget Mary Meehan

Saturday, January 3, 2015  2:00 pm

St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church

3800 Troost Avenue

Kansas City, Missouri 64109

Reception following the ceremony