Whereas yesteryear's women were content to sit home with the children, manage the household and, in most cases, submit their spirituality to someone else's authority, the women of today are no longer satisfied being a passive participant in their lives. They want to take control of every aspect of their life; they aspire to be self sufficient, rather than be provided for; they want to make their own political decisions, rather than have the decisions made for them; but most importantly, they want to take charge of their spiritual life.

Women have always had a place in the Church: in the pews; organizing bake sales and church fund raisers; and teaching Sunday school. These are all important functions in a church, and many women find that serving in this manner provides a sense of fulfillment; however, this is not true for every woman. Many women feel a call to a higher form of service, a call to the priesthood.

The issue of women in the priesthood has always been a controversial subject, one the Church is realizing must be addressed. This realization only comes due to the intense pressure being placed on the Church to respond. In 1956 the Presbyterian and the Methodist Church conceded that women must be given a place in the priesthood. As a result full clergy rights were granted to women in these Denominations. More recently, in 1994, the Church of England announced their acceptance of women in the clergy; however, women are still restricted from performing communion. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, maintains that women are not suitable candidates for the office of the priesthood, and openly states their opposition of such radical notions.

The Roman Catholic Church may feel that women have no place in the priesthood, but the Bible contradicts their stance on the matter. Jesus exhibited no such gender prejudice, for he recruited both men and women as apostles. It is important to know that 'Apostle' in its New Testament usage meant one who was a commissioned messenger . . . Romans 16 refers to a woman apostle, Junias . . . Many Magdalene was sent by the risen Christ to announce the news of His resurrection to the other disciples, 'I have seen the Lord, and this is what He said to me' (John 20:18). The Church honours her as 'the apostle to the apostles' (Ordination of Women in the Catholic Church).

The recognition of women in the service of Jesus still seems to be conveniently overlooked by the majority of Church leaders as many continue to dismiss the notion that women are worthy of the priesthood. It would seem, however, that if these Church leaders knew the bible inside and out, as they should, they would assent to the ordination of women priest.

The New Testament reveals that women had leadership roles in the early church. Phoebe is a deacon and patron of the church at Cenchreae (Romans 16:1-2); Chloe is the church leader at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11); Paul's co-workers are Mary, Tryphaena and Tryphosa (Romans 16:12); and Priscilla is a teacher, missionary and church leader (Acts 18:26, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Romans 16:3). These women exercised ministry, they spread the good news, brought Christ to a wider community in exactly the same way as the men (Ordination of Women in the Catholic Church).

Regardless of the resistance still present in relation to this issue, it seems that progress is being made. Ever so slowly, church leaders are realizing that the divine is present in women as well. Some denominations of Christianity are still behind the times, or rather it is more accurate to say "still catching up" as the evidence of womens evolvement in church leadership was recorded long ago in the Bible. However, the churches that cling to their tradition of a male dominated priesthood may find their membership lagging in the years to come as women who have experienced the call to the priesthood discover that there is, indeed, a place for them-- in another church.