The Episcopal Church has long stood at the forefront of progressive Protestant ecumenism, translating the Gospel’s inclusive message into concrete action. We don’t simply speak of inclusion, we embody it. We walk the talk.

We are proud of our denomination’s prophetic journey:

• 1970: Women ordained to the diaconate
• 1976: Women ordained to the priesthood
• 1977: In New York, the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore ordained Ellen Barrett, our first openly gay priest
• 1989: Gays and lesbians welcomed into ordained ministry
• 2003: The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson consecrated as our first openly gay bishop
• The first woman to serve as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church was The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori. She was elected to a nine-year term at the 75th General Convention in 2006. She was the first woman to lead the Episcopal Church and also the first female primate (head of a national church) in the entire global Anglican Communion.
• 2012: Same-sex blessings authorized
• 2015: The holy sacrament of matrimony extended to same-sex couples
• 2018: The Episcopal Church mandated that same-sex marriage rites be made available to all members in every diocese, even if the local bishop personally disagreed.

We particularly lift up and celebrate our African American siblings in Christ. The Most Rev. Michael Curry, our 27th Presiding Bishop (2015-2024) and descendant of freed slaves, embodied our commitment to elevating discerning members from all communities, proclaiming God’s loving, liberating, life-giving way to the world.