Women Preachers in the Early EMCC

The story of female ministers in the early EMCC (1885-1945), theological basis and examples of women who were officially enrolled and ones with less formal recognition.

  • The Alexander Sisters: Overlooked Women Preachers

    Forgotten Women Preachers series 5. Muriel Isabelle and Annie G Alexander were women in the City Mission Workers Society,1 and their younger sister Irene married a pastor of the Ontario Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church. That is… Continue reading

    The Alexander Sisters: Overlooked Women Preachers
  • How to Kill a Program of “Women in Ministry” Part 2

    In EMCC History Blog “Women Preachers in the Early EMCC Part 1,” we looked at some of the supports for “women in ministry,” and in the Blog “How to Kill a Program of ‘Women in Ministry’ Part 1,” difficulties the… Continue reading

    How to Kill a Program of “Women in Ministry” Part 2
  • How to Kill a Program of “Women in Ministry” Part 1

    Why are there no discussions about the problem of “Men in Ministry”?1 Think about that while we turn to the disabilities that hampered and practically shut down the public ministry of women in the early EMCC in Ontario by about… Continue reading

    How to Kill a Program of “Women in Ministry” Part 1
  • Uncredentialed

    Some women in the early EMCC in Ontario served in public church work outside the City Mission Workers Society (CMWS). Noted in Church literature, or hired/appointed by local congregations, they were uncredentialed by the MBiC Ontario Conference 1885-1946. Elizabeth Risdon,… Continue reading

    Uncredentialed
  • One Hundred and Thirty-Three Women

    Banner: City Mission women early 1930s. Back: L to R: Annie Srigley, Martha Doner, Edith Raymer, unknown, unknown, Front: Rosie Sargeant, unknown, unknown, Annie Yeo, unknown, Winnie Barfoot? From a reader-friendly-blog point of view, I am going to do something… Continue reading

    One Hundred and Thirty-Three Women
  • Mrs Elizabeth Risdon: Mystery Woman, Part 2

    This is the second part of my account of a zealous Christian lady from Michigan (ca 1850-ca 1915) who in widowhood devoted herself to holiness causes in Ontario. Where she began life and where she ended is unknown to me.… Continue reading

    Mrs Elizabeth Risdon: Mystery Woman, Part 2
  • Mrs Elizabeth Risdon: Mystery Woman, Part 1

    I am writing this blog to record what I know about Mrs Risdon and to honour her. I don’t know exactly where she came from and when or where she died or where she fits in the life of the… Continue reading

    Mrs Elizabeth Risdon: Mystery Woman, Part 1
  • City Mission Workers Society (Ontario)

    Approved Ministering Sisters and Presidents. Janet (Douglas) Hall was the first accredited woman preacher in the EMCC’s antecedent churches. She was licensed in Indiana and Ohio in 1884, and in Ontario in the following year. During the next dozen years… Continue reading

    City Mission Workers Society (Ontario)
  • Women Preachers in the MBiC Part 4: Mariah Parr

    Forgotten Women Preachers series [Dec 5 2025: I finally found the obituary for Maria Parr: see the end of the text for the summary.] Out of the 133 women who participated in the official ministry of the early EMCC in… Continue reading

    Women Preachers in the MBiC Part 4: Mariah Parr
  • Women Preachers in the MBiC Part 3: Sarah McQuarrie

    Forgotten Women Preachers series Among the numerous women preachers (I count 133 from 1884 to 1945) of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Canada Conference is a lady called Sarah McQuarrie (b 1863), who entered city mission work in 1900. Not… Continue reading

    Women Preachers in the MBiC Part 3: Sarah McQuarrie