BY A P O S T L E D R . L E E A N N B . M A R I N O, P H . D. , D . D .A P O S T L E I N O F F I C E

A P O S T O L I C F E L L O W S H I P I N T E R N AT I O N A L M I N I S T R I E S

© 2 0 1 0 D R . L E E A N N B . M A R I N O. A L L R I G H T S R E S E RV E D.

Female Pastors In History

Why understand female pastors in history?

Women in ministry is not a new happening, but a continuing revelation of God’s work all throughout salvation history

It is essential for Christian women to recognize their spiritual heritage and history (Hebrews 12:1); women have a “cloud of witnesses” who have gone on before them in faith and power and set forth the course to where women in ministry are today

Women have been called into positions of leadership and authority by God, even if they were not recognized for their specific accomplishments by name

In the area of pastoring and local church authority, it is essential to see women have always filled this role

Priscilla, Pastor

Acts 18:1, 18-28, Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19

Mentioned throughout the New Testament, along with her husband, Aquilla, as companions of Paul and leaders of the church in Corinth

Known for taking Apollos, an influential Jew, into their home, and explaining the way of Christ to them more effectively

Had a congregation meet in their home in Corinth

When Priscilla’s name appears in the Bible along with her husband, hers is listed first, indicating a spiritual prominence and importance

Revered as a saint in traditional denominations, yet her identity is overlooked or abused; many use her as a justification to exclude women from positions of leadership; others minimize her true importance in New Testament Christianity

Chloe, Pastor

1 Corinthians 1:11

Prominent woman of Corinth

A first-century pastor with a congregation meeting in her house, specifically addressed by the Apostle Paul in his letter, 1 Corinthians

In this understanding, Chloe would have been the pastor of those under her spiritual guidance and she would have been accountable to the Apostle Paul

It would have been at the prompting of Chloe that the Apostle Paul came forth to bring correction to the Corinthian church

She is literally ignored, overlooked, cast aside, and not regarded with sainthood in any traditional religion; there is not a single icon or image of this revolutionary woman

Lydia, Pastor

Acts 16:14-15

The first European convert to Christianity under the ministry of the Apostle Paul

Offered hospitality to the Apostle Paul and his companions in her home

Upon her conversion, Lydia’s entire household was baptized and converted as well, thereby becoming their spiritual leader; her home became a center of faith for European Christians

As this work was established, the Apostle Paul and his companions returned to preach and teach in her home

Revered as a saint in all traditional churches; seldom acknowledged, and never formally observed as a pastor

Nympha, Pastor

Colossians 4:15

Leader of a home church in Colossae

She and her church specifically received greetings from the Apostle Paul in his letter sent to the Colossian Christians

Revered as a saint on the books in the traditional churches; unacknowledged as a pastor and virtually ignored in modern groups; in fact, her feast day was removed from the Roman Catholic calendar of veneration in 1969 due to lack of ‘evidence’ surrounding her life

Leonilla, Pastor

Second Century AD

A late-in-life convert who was not baptized until her old age

Led and pastored her grandchildren in the faith, converting and teaching them all

In their zeal, her three grandsons tore down all their idols; while she praised them for their bravery, they were killed for renouncing paganism

Leonilla was beheaded for the conversion and instruction of her grandsons

Acknowledged as a saint in traditional churches, especially in Spain; unstudied in general history and largely unacknowledged

Justina of Nicomedia, Pastor

d. 304

Converted her parents to Christianity; devoted her life unto the Lord

Worked great miracles against those who sought to do her harm for her faith and persevered in belief

As paganism dissolved within her locale, she became an abbess over a monastery in her city

Became a martyr for her faith

Revered as a saint in traditional religious churches; generally unacknowledged and unstudied by modern Christian women

Gaiana of Armenia, Pastor

Third Century AD

Abbess of a monastery in Asia Minor

Supported and taught a young girl, Rhipsime, lived an aesthetic life of prayer

When the Emperor Diocletian saw her image and desired to marry her, she refused despite words of kidnapping and threats of torture

Due to Rhimpsime’s witness as a martyr, Gaiana, her pastor, and another woman also became martyrs for the faith

The wrath of God befell those who martyred these women and they spent their lives as wild beasts

Acknowledged as a saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches; little is taught directly of her work and life as the influence of Rhipsime

Paula of Rome, Pastor

347-403

Born into a noble family; given in marriage to a pagan man who, though pagan, was devoted to her and her family and allowed their five children to be raised as Christians

Became a widow at 32 when her husband died suddenly; desired to turn her home into a monastery

Was covered by St. Jerome and established two other monasteries in Jerusalem, one for women and one for men

Daily the nuns chanted the entire Psalter, which they were required to memorize by heart

Austere in prayer, fast, and almsgiving

Was of great assistance and encouragement to her covering, St. Jerome

Considered a saint in most major religions; largely unknown and uncelebrated by most believers crossing denominations

Syncletica of Alexandria, Pastor

d. 350

Daughter of rich parents who desired to serve God and devote herself to fasting and prayer from a young age

After the death of her parents, she distributed her worldly goods to the poor, left the city with her sister, and lived in a crypt for the rest of her days

Her deeds and lifestyle became well-known and many girls and women came to pray, worship, and live under her guidance

Instructed numerous women and girls through preaching, teaching, and action

Revered as a saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions; virtually unknown and ignored in identity by the majority of Christians, both traditional, and modern

Ita, the Hermitess of Killeady, Pastor

d. 570

The “Foster Mother of the Irish Saints”

Born into nobility and founded a school and convent still existing in Newcastle West in County Limerick; a well still stands to mark the site of her church

Established a convent which was a training ground for young boys, including Brendan, Apostle of Ireland, and her nephew, Mochaemhoch

Served as spiritual counsel for many, and also practiced medicine; lived in repentance and discipline

Believed the three things most pleasing to God were firm belief of a pure heart in God, simple religious life, and liberality with charity.

Revered as a saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions; virtually unknown by Christians today

Matrona, Abbess of Constantinople, Pastor

Fifth century AD

Given in marriage to a wealthy man, moved by faith and often spent days praying in church and seeking repentance for sins

Upon meeting two Elderesses, Matrona sought to begin living an aesthetic life, engaging in fasting and prayer, against the wishes of her husband

Eventually left her family and sought to follow the Lord, wherever he led her; she had to disguise herself as a monk to avoid being found by her husband’s pursuits

When she was discovered to be female in a male monastery, she was sent to a women’s monastery

Became the abbess of the monastery at Emesa

Known beyond the walls of her monastery for her gift of healing, many conversions to the Lord

Acknowledged as a saint in traditional religions; virtually unacknowledged and unclaimed by Christian women today

Sexburga of Kent, Pastor

Seventh Century AD

From a strong family of faith; had four sisters who also worked in Christian ministry

After marriage, Sexburga kept a home church in which members attended day and night for prayer

All of her three children and also her grandchildren followed in the family spirit of ministry

After the death of her husband, Sexburga became a regent on behalf of her son and abbess of her own community, overseeing 74 nuns until her death

Revered as a saint, especially in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches; largely unstudied and unheard of by most Christian women today

Ada, Pastor

Seventh Century AD

From a staunchly pious and religious family

Became a nun at Soissons, France, and an abbess at St. Julien de Pres Abbey in Le Mans, France

Revered in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of religious women and nuns in France; as can be seen by the very limited information available about her life, she is not well-known to Christian women

Everilda of Everingham, Pastor

Seventh Century AD

Of Wessex nobility; converted to Christianity in 635

Left home to become a nun, and was joined by two other women

Founded a convent at Everingham

Led a community of more than 980 women

Though acknowledged as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, virtually unknown by Christian women

Hilda, Abbess of Whitney, Pastor

614-680

Baptized at a young age by one of the first missionaries to the British Isles

Entered into monastic life

Founder and leader of a double monastery of both men and women in 657 at Whitby

A notable teacher and instructor in the arts; her monastery was a famous educational institute, training at least five bishops

Recognized as a saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, yet unknown by most Christian women

Edburga of Winchester, Pastor

c. 920-960

Born into a royal family and desiring spiritual life from a young age

After selecting a chalice rather than gold jewelry at the age of three, Edburga was sent to the care of her cousin, Abbess of a Winchester convent

Revered for her love, gentleness, humility, and holiness in her lifetime

Known for her service, including washing the socks of her fellow nuns, never withholding service for any purpose

Many believe she became Abbess of Winchester

Revered as a saint in traditional denominations; virtually unknown by modern Christian women

Marie Guyart of the Incarnation, Pastor

1599-1672

Born Marie Guyart; married young and had a son, only to have her husband die two years later

Joined the Ursulines at Tours, and became the founder of the order in France and Canada

Rebuilt the first convent in Quebec after fire and spent the rest of her life teaching the Algonquin Indians, and compiling words for dictionaries, that English and Algonquin speakers could learn to communicate

Experienced many visions and spiritual gifts over the years

Regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; largely unacknowledged by Christian women today

Catherine Booth, Pastor

1829-1890

Overcame illness and inspired by faith (reading the entire Bible eight times by age twelve) as a young woman to become the “Army Mother” of the Salvation Army

Confronted culture by working as a female speaker and preacher, including at youth, children’s, and adults

Known for holding meetings for converts and doing extensive work with alcoholics

Active in the work of ministry (including changes, doctrinal issues, and many other important issues) and with women throughout the founding of the Salvation Army

Delivered her final sermon to an audience of 25,000 people

Virtually unknown and ignored by Christians today

Olympia Brown, Pastor

1835-1926

Oldest of four children, raised in an environment where education and religion as very important

Experiencing discrimination in both seminary and in college, Olympia pursued her calling as a minister; rejected to numerous institutions, she was finally accepted to Theological School of St. Lawrence University, as the first woman to graduate from a theological school

In encountering discrimination with her ordination, she was forced to appeal to the council of the Universalist Church; on June 25, 1863, she became the first fully ordained female minister

Went on to pastor churches in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Wisconsin

Due to her experiences with discrimination, she became an advocate for women’s rights, preaching over 300 sermons in one summer alone

While semi-acknowledged for her contributions to women’s history, she is largely ignored as a church figure

Vincentia Maria Lopez Y Vicuna, Pastor

1847-1896

Born and educated in Madrid, Spain; lived with her aunt who established a home for domestic servants

In company with her aunt, Vincentia established a group of women who desired to minister to and educate working girls

Out of this work grew the institute of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate for Domestic Service between 1878-1888

Organization spread throughout Europe and Latin America

Although a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, largely unknown by Christian women today

Anna S. Hanscombe, Pastor

Unknown

Nothing is known about her early life and very little known about her ministry

First woman ordained in the Church of the Nazarene, 1892

Founder of a congregation in 1890 in Malden, Massachusetts

Virtually unknown and ignored in identity by the majority of Christians, both traditional, and modern

Agnes White Diffee, Pastor

1886-1970

Saved at age fourteen and sanctified by age fifteen, Agnes White Diffee was hesitant to answer the call to serve God in ministry; at sixteen, she became the youngest revivalist in the country

She used being a woman as an excuse not to follow God in ministry, not pursuing preaching full-time; after avoiding her calling for a number of years, she developed arthritis, which she believed was in response to her avoidance of her call

Ordained a Senior Pastor in 1919; saw her first church grow to over one thousand members; went on to serve in several other churches and also served on the Board of Regents for a Nazarene college

Hailed as a stellar example for women in ministry among Nazarenes; virtually ignored by other Christian denominations

Aimee Semple McPherson, Pastor

1890-1944

Grew up with a strong influence in the Salvation Army thanks to her mother; grew up playing “Salvation Army” with her friends and playing church with her dolls

Founder and pastor of the Foursquare Gospel, a Pentecostal Mission (became the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel) and its church, Angelus Temple, in Los Angeles; first “mega church” pastor

Pioneer in the use of modern media, especially radio; gifted in using media, technology, and modern issues to promote the Gospel; important figure in the Women’s Movement

Fervent heart for souls and for the social gospel: known for aid to the homeless and hungry; known for interracial meetings and bridging the gap between racial groups

Spent years preaching in revivals, tent revivals, and for healings; received a recommend from the American Medical Association for having so many legitimate healings

While semi-acknowledged as a church figure, not nearly acknowledged for her contributions to women, Christian women, women in ministry, and women’s history

Addie Davis, Pastor

1917-2005

The first woman ordained by a Southern Baptist Church in 1964 at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina

Received dozens of letters and threats objecting to her ordination; one even urged her to “learn from her husband” when she never even married

Forced to leave the south due to an inability to pastor, Addie returned to Watts Street Baptist Church in honor of her 40th anniversary of ordination

Known for her amazing spirit, kindness, and desire to reach out to others

Largely ignored, remaining a controversial figure all these years later; unknown by the majority of Christian women; a scholarship exists in her honor through the Baptist Women in Ministry organization

Join us!

To learn more about women in history, Christian women and their identity in Christ, women in ministry throughout history, and more, join Apostle Dr. Lee Ann Marino (Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries, Apostolic University) for Compass Training™ or History Makers™ Seminars and women in ministry preparation

Counts toward degree credit through Apostolic University

To learn more, visit powerfortoday.org, powerfortoday.webs.com, apostolicuniversity.webs.com, feministchristians.webs.com, or contact us: apostolicuniversity@powerfortoday.org.

References “Agnes White Diffee.”

http://www.whwomenclergy.org/booklets/cloud_of_witnesses.php#AgnesWhiteDiffee

“Aimee Semple McPherson.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson

“Blessed Marie of the Incarnation.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=517

“Catherine Booth.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Booth

“Everilda.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everilda

“KCAA Dusty Shelf, v. 18.” http://www.umkc.edu/KCAA/DUSTYSHELF/DS18.HTM

“Olympia Brown.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_Brown

Pierce, John. “Addie Davis, first woman ordained as Southern Baptist pastor, dies at 88 .” http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/831/118/

Riss, Kathryn. “Women Pastors in the Early Church.” http://www.godswordtowomen.org/pastors.htm

“St. Ada.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ada “St. Edburga of Winchester.”

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/edburga.html

“St. Gaiana of Armenia.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16738

“St. Hilda, Abbess of Whitby.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16863

“St. Ita, the Hermitess of Killeady.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/17331

“St. Justina of Nicomedia.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16769

“St. Leonilla and St. Jonilla at Cappadocia.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/17333

“St. Matrona, Abbess of Constantinople.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16871

“St. Paula of Rome.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/17350

“St. Sexburga of Kent.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/18923

“St. Syncletica of Alexandria.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/17319

“St. Vincentia Maria Lopez Y Vicuna.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=601

“Who Were Aquilla And Priscilla?” http://www.biblequestions.org/Archives/BQAR387.htm