Save the date for WOC’s 48th

This November (17-19), the Women’s Ordination Conference will commemorate our 48th anniversary with a virtual gala and auction: “Synodality and the Fierce Urgency of Equality: The Call for Women’s Ordination Now.”

Our theme refers to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s prophetic phrase, “the fierce urgency of now,” which he spoke of on August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial during his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and continued to use after. 

Dr. King called a divided country to respond to the injustices of the time with vigorous and positive action, for “there is such a thing as being too late.” 

The Synod on Synodality is a kairos moment for the church, one where the imperative to walk together meets God’s urgent call for loving-justice and radical equality. We must walk together as the people of God at the pace of synodality, and we must move urgently to right the wrongs of patriarchy and misogyny. This dynamic tension will be explored throughout the gala through a mix of pre-recorded videos and live panels.

Schedule of events

• Friday, November 17th at 7pm (ET): Gala and online auction open! We’ll hear from Sr. Joan Sobala, Jane Varner Malhotra, Sr. Mary McGlone, and Notre Dame doctoral student, Amirah Orozco.

• Saturday, November 18th: All day we’ll be sending out video recordings from theologians, activists, thought-leaders, ministers, and friends of WOC reflecting on our theme. Watch these at your own pace and enjoy the auction offerings! We’re very excited to share this list of esteemed guests soon!

• Saturday, November 18th Noon (ET): Live panel discussion with Notre Dame doctoral candidate Flora X. Tang and Dr. Valerie Lewis-Mosley as they reflect on the challenges of synodality in the face of injustice.

• Saturday, November 18th 3pm (ET): Live panel discussion with three global women WOC will host a panel featuring three women who will take part in the synod in Rome: Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler, Sheila Pires, and Sr. Filo Hirota.

• Sunday, November 19th 11am (ET): Join us for our closing liturgy celebrating our movement towards a “horizon of hope.” Whether you have been a part of our feminist liturgies since the beginning, or would like to participate in one for the first time, you are welcome and your presence enriches our gathering.