In this litany, the lines in italics are spoken by the People.

Let us give thanks to God, who has created us and is transforming us and the Church.

For the gifts of leadership which you have bestowed upon women and men in the Church,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the ministries of ordained women - bishops, priests, and deacons - who serve and lead in your Church,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For Florence Li Tim-Oi, ordained priest in Hong Kong in 1944,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the women ordained priest in Philadelphia in 1974: Merrill Bittner, Alla Bozarth-Campbell, Allison Cheek, Emily Hewitt, Carter Heyward, Suzanne Hiatt, Marie Moorefield, Jeannette Piccard, Betty Bone Schiess, Katrina Welles Swanson, and Nancy Hatch Wittig,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the women ordained priest in Washington in 1975: E. Lee McGee, Alison Palmer, Elizabeth Rosenberg, and Diane Tickell,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the women who have been ordained since 1976,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the courageous leadership of those who envisioned the possibilities of a priesthood that includes women as well as men,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the response of the 1976 General Convention to this vision of a new church in which women as well as men are ordained to the priesthood and to the episcopate,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For the faithfulness and persistent vision of those in dioceses and denominations where women cannot be ordained, who long to experience the ordained leadership of women as well as men,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For our children who are growing up with an image of ordained leadership which includes both women and men,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

For ordained women who have died and joined the larger communion of saints,
Our souls proclaim the greatness of God,
Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.

Good and gracious God,
you have done great things for us:
Holy is your name.
We thank you
for the gifts we are receiving
through the ministry of ordained women,
and above all,
for the gifts of salvation and new life
offered through Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be praise and glory,
now and for ever. Amen.

Ruth Meyers
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
r-meyers@seabury.edu