Podcast Episode 25
Philadelphia 11
with Canon Elise Johnstone & host Nick Walters
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This Week in Christian History begins each episode with a Deep Dive conversation featuring Nick Walters, founder of the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College, and a subject-matter expert whose background helps illuminate a major historical theme. For Episode 25, the expert guest is Rev. Canon Elise Johnstone, Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, Washington. Her leadership in one of the Northwest’s most active Episcopal parishes provides a unique vantage point for understanding ministry, Anglican tradition, and the evolving role of clergy within the Episcopal Church.
The Deep Dive centers on the ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven, one of the most transformative moments in modern Episcopal history. On July 29, 1974, eleven women were ordained to the priesthood in the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, challenging long-established conventions and setting off a national and global conversation about authority, vocation, and the calling of women in ministry. The event reshaped the Episcopal Church’s identity and influenced debates across the Anglican Communion. It also became a defining moment in the broader Christian movement for women’s ordination. The Philadelphia Eleven brought together a diverse group of women united by a shared sense of calling, deep theological conviction, and a desire to serve the church with the same sacramental responsibilities as their male counterparts. Their ordination—initially considered “irregular”—led to significant policy changes, new pathways for clergy formation, and a lasting shift in how Episcopal communities understood leadership, justice, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Canon Elise Johnstone offers insight from the perspective of a parish deeply shaped by the legacy of this movement. St. John’s Episcopal Church in Seattle is known for its commitment to Christian formation, liturgical depth, community outreach, and a long-standing engagement with questions of vocation and ministry. The parish has played a continuing role in supporting women clergy, fostering theological education, and cultivating a culture where historic developments—such as the ordination of women—are interpreted through Scripture, tradition, and pastoral practice. The Seattle context, with its vibrant interfaith landscape and socially engaged Christian communities, provides a rich backdrop for understanding how the work begun by the Philadelphia Eleven continues to inspire clergy and lay leaders today.
Following the Deep Dive, the episode turns to this week’s two historical highlights in Christian history.
Highlight One: July 30, 1956 – Although “In God We Trust” first appeared on some U.S. coins in 1864, it was not until July 30, 1956, that Congress passed a Joint Resolution declaring it the official motto of the United States. Adopted at the height of the Cold War, the motto reflected a widespread desire to articulate a national identity connected to trust in God and to distinguish American public values from competing global ideologies. Its use has sparked decades of discussion, but its adoption remains a significant moment in the nation’s religious and civic history.
Highlight Two: July 28, 1540 – Thomas Cromwell, chief advisor to King Henry VIII, was a driving force behind England’s Protestant Reformation. While Henry sought political control of the Church of England, Cromwell was motivated by a deeper commitment to advancing Protestant theology. His opposition to the king’s desire to divorce Anne of Cleves brought their relationship to a breaking point, leading to Cromwell’s arrest and execution on July 28, 1540. His fall dramatically altered the direction of the English Reformation and exposed the high stakes of religious and political reform in the sixteenth century.
The Philadelphia Eleven at their ordination service on July 29, 1974 at Church of the Advocate, Philadelphia (photo: Brad Hess, via Darlene O’Dell).
