ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – A Barbadian-born lay minister has created history by becoming the first woman to be ordained as a Deacon in the Anglican Diocese of the Windward Islands.
Eleanor Glasgow, Director of Lay Ministries of the Anglican Church in Grenada, broke new ground in the sub-region after being ordained as a Deacon at the St George Cathedral Church in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Her ordination comes 11 years after the Windward Diocese assented to the ordination of women after the idea was first rejected in 1997.
“I believe that by my answering the call and being accepted as a woman, that the door is now open for other women who believe they are so called to come forward,” Deacon Glasgow said in an interview in St George’s where she has been a resident since 1992. “That in itself is breaking with tradition. Why should a woman be denied if she has been called?”
She noted that the Windward Islands were somewhat slow in getting on board with that idea.
“With second, third and fourth generation female priests in Barbados nobody bothers. Here in the Windward Islands it’s a new thing. I am fully aware of the sensitivities and we don’t want to rock anyone’s faith and so it’s a process,” Deacon Glasgow said. “You are breaking with tradition so you would need to put structures in place to receive the woman.”
The newly ordained deacon grew up in Barbados where she attained a first degree and a master’s degree, both in theology, at Codrington College.
Deacon Glasgow’s ordination was her second history-making achievement, having become Barbados’ first female air traffic controller about 20 years ago.
The Windward Islands Diocese is made up of St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Of the eight constituting the wider Province of the West Indies, Guyana is the only one yet to approve the ordination of women.
A debate has already started on whether women should be accepted as Bishops in the Province of the West Indies.
A two-thirds majority vote is required within the synod, the Anglican Church’s highest decision making body, for such proposals to become Canon law. (CMC)
