Women ministers’ milestone

On May 4, 1956, the United Methodist Church practiced the doctrine it preached ? “open heart, open mind, open doors” ? by approving at its annual conference full clergy rights for women in the church.

Fifty years later, as the church celebrates the 50th anniversary of that milestone, there are more than 10,000 United Methodist clergywomen nationwide. Two of those women serve at the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church.

Rev. Virginia Wheeler ? Rev. Ginny to everyone at church ? was brought up in the Methodist church in the ‘50s and ‘60s in Missouri. With the winds of women’s liberation blowing across the country, this young woman, who sang in the youth choir, listened to male pastors read the Scripture.

At Southern Methodist University she studied religion, but no counselor approached her to suggestshe become a minister. But the voice inside continued to fan the flame of her faith and fervor. After graduation she married a Naval officer, and for the next seven years she took jobs in the local Methodist churches where they were stationed.

The whispered flame became a full fire when they were stationed in Washington, D.C., and lived on campus at Wesley Theological Seminary. With devotion, dedication and the duties of a wife and mother, she completed the rigorous course of study in three years.

Ordained in 1985, she went to San Diego with her young boys in tow and served as an associate pastor at St. Marks United Methodist Church for five years. She then was moved to the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, where she served as an associate pastor, becoming full pastor when David Beadles retired in 1997. Rev.Wheeler was the first woman in the United Methodist Church to be moved up from associate to full pastor in the same church.

“I credit the United Methodist Church and especially a few forward-thinking men who were able to think beyond the stereotypes and call women to ministry,” Rev. Wheeler says. “Those men need to be thanked for recognizing the power of the Holy Spirit in claiming people ? especially women ? for ordained ministry. And I thank God for putting me on the path He did.”

Pastor Jaye Watson, Minister of Visitation at Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, knew she would be in God’s service in some way. Her service manifested as organist/choir director in several United Methodist churches.

After marrying a minister in 1979, she finally acknowledged the inner call that had been patiently present in her for years. She did her post graduate work at the School of Theology at Claremont and was consecrated as diaconal minister in 1986. Her ordination as a permanent deacon occurred in 1999, just a few weeks before her husband’s death, fulfilling his wish that she carry on as the next Reverend Watson in the family.

“It must have been very frustrating for women serving in the church prior to 1956 who felt something deep inside and had to deny it because, even though they were having conversations with God about ministry, there was no way they could ever act upon the call,” Rev. Watson says. “Even when the doors were first opened to ordination for women, the women who bravely moved into uncharted territory did not have an easy road.”

Even today, not everyone is accepting of women in the pulpit or performing the Sacraments.

“Not too long ago, I was scheduled to perform a wedding,” recounts Rev. Watson. “When I first met with the couple, I could tell they were confused. They were very honest and made it clear that they thought Rev. Jaye Watson was Rev. “Jay” Watson. Fortunately, they had time to seek out another church with a male minister.”

Fifty years is not a long time in the overall scheme of things. Women today continue to be pioneers as they grow as a representative body as God’s servants, bringing the word to all who will have open hearts, open minds and open doors.