International Association of Women Ministers records, 1920 -- 2003

"I want to get in touch with some women who are preaching, like myself. I know so few, and there must be others." With these words a Kansas woman organized "The American Association of Women Preachers" in 1919. The organization of the now named International Association of Women Preachers took place on November 21, 1919 at the YWCA in St. Louis, Missouri. The founding officers were: Rev. Dr. Madeline Southard, President; Rev. Lida M. Herrick, Recording Secretary; Rev. Ella L. Kroft, Treasurer; and Rev. Mary Sibbitt, Auditor. Southard was a Methodist minister from Kansas. From its founding, the Association has had a four-fold purpose: first, to develop an enabling fellowship among women ministers; second, to promote equal ecclesiastical rights for women; third, to urge women to qualify for increased efficiency in Christian service; and fourth, to encourage consecrated and capable women to take up the work of ministry. Active membership is limited to "Christian women who are officially licensed, ordained, or authorized as clergy; also women who meet the above requirements, but whose denominations do not authorize women to serve as ministers." There are also other strata of membership, including fraternal sustaining, student, retired, and life members. In 1923 William Jennings Bryan became the first fraternal member. Article IV of their constitution states that "the regular meetings of the Association shall be an Assembly held annually or at the call of the executive board." The first assembly was held in Evanston, Illinois in 1920. The Assembly has met every year since its inception. It has met outside the United States five times, including the 2001 Assembly, which met in Aotearoa, New Zealand. In 1930 the Association became an American operation, but forty years later it reclaimed its international identity becoming the International Association of Women Ministers. Over 20% of its current membership resides outside of the United States.