Embracing Women

This book traces the story of the development of women's ordained ministry in the Church of Ireland from 1976 to the present day. It offers a story both of personal pilgrimage and of ecclesial development, as the author describes her own journey alongside the dialogue of groups and individuals within the church. The Church of Ireland voted to ordain women as priests and, if elected, as bishops back in 1990, two years before the Church of England voted to do so. There were many complications and a good deal of pain in the fourteen years it took to move from the church's decision that there was 'no theological objection' to its vote to proceed with ordinations; but the decision caused no split in the church.