There are two wonderful women who would serve as inspirations at the Inaugural.

Meet Reverend Detherage. She works diligently within the doctrine of AME. She focuses on justice, the legal standing of women and seeks solice in ministry with prison populations.

Rev. Kimberly L. Detherage is an itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Pastor of St. Mark A.M.E. Church, Jackson Heights, New York.   

Prior to being appointed to St. Mark she served as Pastor of Bright Temple A.M.E. Church, Bronx, New York and Bethel A.M.E. Church , Arverne, New York.   Before being appointed to Pastor Bethel Rev. Kim served as the Minister to young Adults and Minister to Youth at  Bridge Street, A.W.M.E. church, Brooklyn, New York.  For 15 years. Rev. Kim owned her own law firm and has been engaged in the practice of law for over 20 years.  Rev. Kim serves as a Board member on the First Episcopal District Self Help Board, an Instructor for the Ministerial Institute, and also serves on the New York Conference Board of Trustees, Board of Examiners and previously served on the Ministerial Efficiency Committee. She co-authored the legislation on clergy and lay sexual misconduct which can be found in the Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, has provided extensive training on the Church’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and conducted workshops on a variety of issues. Rev. Kim received her BA in Speech Communications and her Juris Doctor degree from Boston College in 1982 and 1985 respectively.  In 1996, she received her Master of Divinity Degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University with certificates in Black Church Studies and Women’s Studies.  In 1997, she completed a program of studies in Clinical Pastoral Education with Emory University Health System.  

Rev. Kim is excited about the future direction of AME/WIM and looks forward to the strengthening  the internal and external structure of the organization.  With the support of the Executive Board, District Presidents, Coordinators and all women in ministry we can make a difference, and set a standard for the church at large.   Our mission this quadrennium is to honor the legacy of Jarena Lee and trailblazing women past and present by defining, supporting and expanding the presence of women in ministry and the AME church.

Accomplishments

    - 1^st Black Female Supervisor of Criminal Defense Division, of The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn, NY

    - Developed female Rites of Passage program

    - Set up Women's Literacy Program with curriculum, Ghana,West Africa

    - Implemented Mechanisms for identifying police brutality in court system

    - Co-author, Clergy Sexual Misconduct Policy, Doctrine and Discipline of AMEC.

    - Organized Women Be Well, Inc.

    - Collect and document the stories of women in ministry in the New York Annual Conference

   - Legal Advisor to women in ministry

Both are incredible women. Perhaps, there is room for two at the Inaugural. I sincerely wish the faith community would find a way to resolve to be a comfort to President Obama on his inauguration day. While the nation looks on as a witness to their President's inauguration, it is his inauguration after all.

A dedication to God no one can contest, Mary Glasspool is first openly lesbian Anglican consecrated as Bishop.

William Crawley
11:07 UK time, Friday, 14 May 2010

After her episcopal consecration (click here) in California tomorrow, Canon Mary Glasspool will become the second openly gay and partnered bishop, and the first openly lesbian bishop, within the Anglican Communion. She also becomes the 17th female bishop with The Episcopal Church. Predictably, her election proved controversial both within the United States and internationally....


The Rev. Canon Mary Douglas Glasspool 
Canon to the Bishops

An ordained priest since 1981, Canon Mary Glasspool served in parishes in Philadelphia, 
Boston and Annapolis (St. Margaret’s) before becoming Canon to the Bishops in 2001. 

She has served on Diocese of Maryland’s Standing Committee, the board of Episcopal Community Services of Maryland, and has been a Deputy to General Convention four times, each time having been elected the head of the deputation.  

Canon Glasspool’s responsibilities are varied and range from pastoral care to development. She serves as pastor to clergy and their families, provides counseling to congregations in crises, oversees parish and mission retreats, and attends Sunday visitations with congregations. Her development responsibilities include leadership development and training, performing demographic studies, assisting parish Wardens and the Wardens’ Conference, serving on the Diocesan Council Planning Team, and overseeing parish, mission, vestry and advisory board retreats.

EDUCATION AND ORDINATION (click here for her story and vitae)

Fall 2006 Merrill Fellow, Harvard Divinity School
Coursework and Faculty
     The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, The Rev. Dr. Ian T. Douglas
     World Religions in Boston, Dr. Diana L. Eck
     Religious Dimensions in Human Experience, Dr. David Carrasco
     Merrill Fellows’ Colloquium, Dr. Emily Click
Fall 1998 Certificate Program, St. George’s College, Jerusalem
The Bible and the Holy Land, Past and Present 
In-depth (eight weeks) experience of the Bible in its geographical, historical, and theological contexts through travel, study, and dialogue. Travel throughout Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. Introduction to contemporary issues of peace and justice and Islamic StudiesMarch 1982: Ordained Priest by Bishop Lyman Ogilby (Pennsylvania)
June 1981: Ordained Deacon by Bishop Paul Moore, Jr. (New York)May 1981: Master of Divinity, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
May 1976: Bachelor of Arts, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Magna Cum Laude; Honors in Music; Hufstader Prize – Outstanding Senior Woman

They are wonderful women who would bring honor to the inauguration of President Obama.