Luther Lee’s Ordination Sermon

In 1853, Antoinette Brown became the first woman to be publicly ordained to the Christian ministry in any denomination in America. As a member of the Congregationalist Church, Ms. Brown asked Luther Lee, one of the founders of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, to preach the sermon at that service. Lee’s sermon remains one of the most articulate explanations of the biblical and practical reasons for altering the long-standing practice of restricting ordination to only males. 

It is important for Wesleyans to realize that women in ministry has been a distinguishing element of The Wesleyan Church from its very beginning. Apart from a brief period from 1879 to 1891 – when arguably the church caved into the surrounding culture – Wesleyan Methodism has always affirmed women in ministry. The Pilgrim Holiness Church never had a time without women ministers, with the number reaching as high as 40% in the 1940s. Here is a Kingswood microcourse on the topic.

Read the sermon Lee preached, “A Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel.” Identify one key argument he makes that struck you as insightful as well as any questions you might have about any of his points. Make an initial post in the Discussion Forum of at least 300 words.

After making your initial post, please read through the responses of your classmates and make at least three follow-up comments on a different day than your original post. These responses should contribute meaningfully to the discussion whether by asking insightful questions, providing additional examples or perspectives, or challenging ideas respectfully. Each follow-up comment should be at least 100 words. This discussion is worth 30 points.