MONTANA SYNOD ELCA
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Honoring Women's Ordination Anniversaries

In 1970, both the Lutheran Church in America and the American Lutheran Church removed barriers to women's ordination, and soon the first two women were ordained. Elizabeth Platz was ordained in November 1970 into the LCA, and Barbara Andrews was ordained in December of 1970 into the American Lutheran Church. Later, in 1976, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches ordained their first woman, Janith Otte-Murphy.
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In 2020, the ELCA honors the anniversaries of women's ordination--50 years since the first women of European background were ordained, 40 years since the first women of color were ordained, and 10 years since the ELCA removed barriers for women in same-sex marriages.

No women pastors served in what is now the Montana Synod until 1980. But gradually the numbers grew, as congregations increasingly called women as their pastors. In honor of this 50th anniversary, we have reached out to women who have served in the Montana Synod (and its predecessor churches) as pastors. We have invited reflections on an aspect of ministry. The stories are varied. The pastors who share them are rural and urban, married and single, first-career and second, third or fourth-career. Some of them have served their whole ministry in the Montana Synod, others moved in and out. Each has a story to tell. We hope you will read them and thank these women who stepped up and answered a call to ministry.

Our Pastors' Stories

Presented Alphabetically

Avis Anderson
Kristin Anderson
Amanda Applehans
Ellen Ayres
Ann Baither
Barbara Birkeland
Bonita Bock
Tamara Bull
Patricia Callaghan


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Firsts and Fun Facts

Jessica Crist
Elisabeth Daniels
Tonya Eza
Tonia Fisher
Brenda Frelsi
Wenda Fry
Mary Giltvedt
Barbara Gwynn
Marie Herrenschmidt


Christine Holler-Dinsmore
Cheryl Hoops
Jennifer Jelinek
Renae Johnson
Aprille Jordan
Laurie Jungling
Kathleen Larson Aasheim
Jean Larson
Peggy Paugh Leuzinger
Amanda Liggett
Elizabeth Liggett
Melanie Martin-Dent
Kris Mitzman
Anne Morawski
Maryann Morgenstern
Bonnie Novak
Jessie Obrecht
Lynne Ogren
Alvina Olstead
Melinda Quivik
Kathrin Radach

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Resources from Churchwide
Study Guide
Bible Study
Worship


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Resources from St. Olaf

Linda Rose
Audrey Rydbom
Sarah Schilcher
Miriam Schmidt
Carol Seilhymer
Elizabeth Sillerud
Doris Tollefson
Linda Webster
Shelley Bryan Wee
Barbara Westhoff
Stephanie White
Kendra Wilde

1221 24th Street South - Great Falls, MT 59405-5034  [Phone] 406.453.1461 
© 2022 Montana Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Home
  • Faith Formation
    • Faith Formation
    • Lay Pastoral Associates
    • NRIT >
      • Jessica Crist Scholarship Fund
  • Montana Synod Information
    • Montana Synod Information
    • About
    • Staff
    • Directories
    • Changing Climate Taskforce
    • Stewardship and Mission Support
    • Synod Council
    • Gift Policy
    • Clusters
    • Staff Blogs >
      • Laurie Jungling - From the Bishop Blog
    • Ecuminical & Interfaith Partners
    • Partner Ministries >
      • WELCA News
    • ELCA >
      • ELCA Statements
  • Congregations
    • Congregations
    • Future Church
    • Transitions
    • For Congregations
    • Disaster Response Resources
    • Constitution
    • Sexual Misconduct Policies
  • Leaders
    • Leaders
    • Coaching in the Montana Synod
    • For Rostered Leaders
  • News & Events
    • News & Events
    • 2022 News Archive
    • 50-40-10 Women's Ordination Anniversaries
    • Events Calendar
    • Archive >
      • 2021 News Archive
      • From the Bishop Blog - Jessica Crist
      • Synod Assembly Archive
      • Quincentenary
      • South Africa 2015
      • Bolivia Recap Blog
    • Multimedia
  • Contact Us