It was of interest, therefore, to read the following from the New York Times of December 5, 1969: “Mrs. Theodore O. Wedel, a 61-year-old former church executive, defeated a militant black candidate today to become the first woman president of the National Council of Churches.” Mrs. Wedel is an Episcopalian. Yet, the Times noted: “The Episcopal Church is one of the few Protestant denominations in the country that still refuses to ordain women.”

Episcopalians thus find themselves in a dilemma. They do not ordain women as church leaders. Yet one of their women members is now the head of the organization of which they are a part.

U.S. News & World Report of December 15 states: “Disputes over such issues as black power, the war in Vietnam and draft resistance are raising large questions about the future of the National Council of Churches.” Over these disputes a woman now presides, contrary to the principle that only men are to preside in the Christian congregation.