This March – International Women’s Month – the Metropolitan New York Synod (MNYS) is commencing a celebration of the women in leadership in their more than 190 churches throughout the tri-state area.
During this period of an increased embrace of and heightened diviseness surrounding diversity in churches throughout the United States, the MNYS feels it is more important than ever to celebrate these milestones in the Lutheran Church.
- The 50th Anniversary of U.S. Lutheran Churches’ Decision to Ordain Women
- The 40th Anniversary of the First Women of Color Ordained in U.S. Lutheran Churches
- The 10th Anniversary of the ELCA’s Decision to Remove the Barrier to Ordination for LGBTQIA+ Individuals
Woman-identifying ministers of the MNYS synod will share public video testimonials with the public via YouTube and social media, starting in March and ongoing through August, when the Metropolitan New York Synod Annual Assembly will be held, either in person or virtually. You can find them here:
For example, one of the pastors is The Rev. Rebecca Seely (feature photo), Candidacy Coordinator, a queer pastor and a leader of the Metropolitan New York Synod who is married to another female pastor ordained by the MNYS.
In her video interview, Rev Seely says:
—The Rev. Rebecca Seely, Pastor & Candidacy Coordinator, Metropolitan New York Synod
See her full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOI9DAzNYIw&list=PLqXx-AhHRWqvdnlrVSw0-mLSh1GVYcHQD&index=4
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About Metropolitan New York Synod
The Metropolitan New York Synod is the regional expression of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and encompasses 190 parishes in all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester Counties. The 190 parishes are greatly diverse, from rural outposts to inner-city storefront churches, with a good dose of suburban mid-sized congregations as well. Worship is conducted in over a dozen languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Norwegian, German, Swahili, and American Sign Language. Progressive and highly inclusive, the Synod champions diversity and tolerance, with strong multicultural and global missions, as well as unwavering advocacy for children, the LGBTQIA+ community and displaced immigrants.
