Erin Saiz Hanna Named Women’s Ordination Conference Executive Director

For Immediate Release
Contact: Clarissa Mendez, 202-675-1006, www.womensordination.org   

Date: July 07, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC- Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) Board of Directors announced the hiring of Erin Saiz Hanna as Executive Director today. Hanna, 29, joined the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) in 2008 and served as WOC’s Assistant Director until being named Executive Director last May. She brings a depth of relevant experience to her leadership of WOC, the oldest and leading organization working for the ordination of Catholic women into an inclusive, renewed priesthood.
 
In Hanna’s previous position as Assistant Director, she initiated several campaigns, including the recent "Break the Silence. Shatter the Stained Glass Ceiling." initiated after Fr. Roy Bourgeois’ threat of excommunication. In addition, Hanna has increased public awareness of the need for women’s ordination and equality in the church through education initiatives, grassroots organizing, media, and advancing WOC’s use of technology.
 
"Based on Erin’s innovativeness, organizing skills and dedication to the mission of WOC, as a board we are very eager for Erin to take on this leadership role," stated Laura Signer, President of WOC Board of Directors. "We are confident that Erin will be an effective representative of WOC’s vision for our church as a discipleship of equals and will strive to ensure that our values are upheld in the strategies and work of this movement."
 
"I am extremely enthusiastic and blessed to serve in the WOC community during this exciting time in our movement. We just launched our campaign for the Year of the Priest and speaking tour with Fr. Roy Bourgeois. It’s an honor to continue this work for equality and justice in our church and lead it to new levels." stated Hanna.   

Since 2004, Hanna has been an associate with the Sisters of Mercy – Northeast Community. Prior to WOC, Hanna taught middle school Religious Studies in the Catholic Diocese of in Rhode Island. During this time she also served as Vice President-Membership of Rhode Island NOW, co-chaired the NOW Young Feminist Task Force, and served on the steering committee of the 2005 NOW Women of Color and Allies Summit. In July of 2005, Hanna began working at National Organization for Women (NOW) headquarters in Washington, DC as a field and chapter development organizer where she helped train and support leadership in grassroots organizing and facilitated a number of political and issue campaigns. In addition, Hanna served as a representative on the National Coalition for Immigrant Women’s Rights.
 
"As an associate with the Sisters of Mercy, I have always been inspired by the order’s direction statement, which states our commitment to ministering to women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society. That one statement impelled me to join the order as an associate in 2004 and directs my work as an advocate for women. I found WOC in 2005 through an event sponsored by WOC’s Young Feminist Network. That day, I was incredibly impressed to find young women working for justice and equality in our church. WOC members are making a positive difference in our world. This is a movement that I care passionately about." stated Hanna. 
 
Hanna earned a dual degree in Religious Studies and Sociology in 2002 from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island where she was very active in campus ministry and received a number of awards for her activism.
 
Hanna will direct the staff and work of Women’s Ordination Conference at the national headquarters in Washington, DC.  She will meet with members and supporters of WOC across the country in the coming months.  

"Women’s ordination is an issue of justice. Over the past year I have met countless women telling me that God is calling them to ordination. I am honored to serve as a leader among these prophetic women and all those supporting women’s equality in our church." Hanna concluded. 

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Founded in 1975, the Women’s Ordination Conference is the oldest and largest organization that works to solely ordain women as priests, deacons and bishops into an inclusive and accountable Catholic church.  WOC represents the 63 percent of US Catholics, and millions of Catholics worldwide, that support women’s ordination. WOC also promotes new perspectives on ordination that call for more accountability and less separation between the clergy and laity.