This past weekend United Methodist delegates gathered in Sacramento for the 178th California Nevada Annual Conference Session. The time was filled with worship, inspiring preaching, presentations, legislation, ordination, and holy conferencing throughout.  When I return from travels later in July there will be a presentation of what all occurred and how SUMC is invited to participate in the ongoing ministry and witness of the larger Conference (in the meantime you can see what happened by clicking Here  ).
This year at conference we also celebrated a BIG milestone - 70 years of full clergy rights for women in our Methodist tradition. This was an opportunity to give thanks—not only for a historic vote in 1956, but for the countless faithful women who answered God's call long before the Church fully recognized it.
This photo was taken at this year’s Annual Conference – this is (nearly) all of the Women Clergy in the California Neveda Annual Conference – Elders, Deacons, Local Pastors – Active and Retired. Praise God!
From the very beginning of the Methodist movement, women proclaimed the Gospel. Sarah Crosby, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, and many others preached, taught, led class meetings, and nurtured the faith of growing communities. John Wesley himself recognized that some women possessed an "extraordinary call" from God and authorized them to preach. Yet after Wesley's death, many of those opportunities faded, and women often found themselves serving faithfully without receiving the same recognition or authority as men.
The journey toward full clergy rights was long. Across the various Methodist traditions, women experienced seasons of progress and setbacks. Some denominations ordained women as early as the nineteenth century, only to have those rights removed during later denominational mergers. Finally, in 1956, The Methodist Church voted to grant women full clergy rights, opening the door for ordination on equal footing. That same year, Maud Keister Jensenbecame the first woman to receive those rights under the new legislation.
When The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968, that commitment continued and expanded. Since then, women have faithfully served as pastors, district superintendents, seminary professors, bishops, missionaries, chaplains, conference leaders, and theologians. Their ministries have enriched congregations, strengthened communities, and proclaimed the Gospel in every corner of the connection.
This anniversary is about more than remembering the past. It is a reminder that the Church is healthiest when every person is encouraged to respond to God's call. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly entrusts women with proclaiming good news: Deborah judges Israel, Esther saves her people, Mary bears Christ into the world, and Mary Magdalene becomes the first witness to the Resurrection. The Holy Spirit continues to distribute gifts "to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses" (1 Corinthians 12:11).
At Sonoma United Methodist Church, we celebrate this anniversary with gratitude for the women who have shaped our own congregation. Many have preached, taught, organized ministries, served in mission, cared for neighbors, led committees, sung in choirs, nurtured children, visited the sick, and faithfully lived out the Gospel in ways both public and unseen. Their witness reminds us that ministry is not defined by gender, but by God's gracious call.
As we celebrate seventy years of women's ordination, we also recommit ourselves to being a church where every child, youth, and adult can imagine themselves responding to God's invitation to serve. We pray that future generations will know a Church that recognizes God's gifts wherever they appear and encourages every disciple to use them for the transformation of the world.
May we give thanks for those who opened doors before us, support those who are serving today, and continue to encourage all whom God is calling tomorrow.
Grace and Peace, Pastor M@