A Radical Vision

"Whose afraid of women priests?" - The title of a Ms. Magazine front page story, Dec. 1974
Fifty years ago, there were no women priests in the Episcopal Church. 
 
In 1974, after years of working for the ordination of women priests within the structure of the church, eleven women were ordained priests at The Church of the Advocate, a historically Black Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, outside the accepted rules. Today thousands of women are priests – along with a rapidly growing number of bishops-- and they are crucial to the Episcopal Church. Yet few people-- clergy or lay— realize the struggles involved in women being ordained. The Philadelphia 11 tells their story.
 
Help us discover --and celebrate-- this story of faith, struggle, fear and joy as women answered God’s calls to transform the church by recognizing their ministry, as we follow in their footsteps always striving for an inclusive ministry and a "whole priesthood."

We are regular people, some of us clergy and some of us laypeople, who believe this film is crucial at this time. 

Please help us reach our goal of $585,000

Update: As of August 31st, we have raised $98,644, leaving us with $486,356 left to raise. Help us keep the momentum going!

​As of November 17th, we have raised an additional $25,416, leaving us $461,120 left to raise. We are hoping to premiere the film at festivals this spring. Please keep sharing the donate page in your circles!
Forward together,
Ms. Katie Courtice Basquin, Mitchellville, MD
The Rev. Cynthia Black, Newark, NJ 
Dr. Heather Huyck, Mitchellville, MD
Ms. Jean Jackson, Cedar Rapids, IA
The Rev. Nan Peete, Washington D.C.
The Rev. Margaret Rose, New York, NY
The Rev. Susan Russell,  Pasadena, CA
Ms. Ames Sheldon, Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett, Falmouth, MA  

Note from the Director

This story is grounded in the mandate to be true to ourselves. It is the story of a call that is denied, and the determination it takes to overcome the barriers and live out the call with integrity. In this case, it is a call to the priesthood; yet each of us, no matter our faith, our race, our gender, our sexual orientation, our (dis)abilities or anything else that defines us, has a vocation. 

The misogyny that stands in the way of a whole priesthood, is as real today as it was at the time these events took place. My hope is that the prophetic actions of these women will inspire a continued examination of the roots of racism, homophobia, sexism and all other forms of marginalization, so that our institutions and society are transformed and we call all fully as we are called to be.

​- Margo Guernsey
​​Read more about the film team by clicking on the button below.

What will the funds be used for?

The filmmaking team, led by Margo Guernsey of Time Travel Productions, has raised more than $200,000 since 2015 to support the production of the film. Many of you helped with that effort. That money has paid for all of field production and interviews (filming and sound recording), most of the edit and years of archive research. The filmmakers have donated their time and equipment.

Funds are need to pay post production costs which include the final stages of edit, licensing the archive footage, legal and research fees associated with the archive, insurance, color correct, sound mix, composed music, and graphics. Depending on other sources of funds secured, some of these funds could be used for the initial marketing of the film.

Can I see a scene or trailer?

Contact us for some options to see sneak peaks privately.

When will the film be released?

Pending financing, we plan to release the film on the festival circuit in 2023. The rollout will then expand in 2024 in celebration of 50 years.  

Donate today!

Make a tax-deductible donation through the film's fiscal sponsor, Documentary Educational Resources (DER), by clicking the button below.​ 
​​​Or mail a check made out to DER. On the memo line please write: Philadelphia Eleven film.

​Documentary Educational Resources
108 Water Street 5A
Watertown, MA 02472
DER is a 501(c)3 and is set up to take donations directly from many donor funds. Please reach out to DER or use our "contact us" link if you would like more information.

Thank you!

One of our supporters has designed a button that commemorates the original pins that were part of the movement for the ordination of women as priests!

The message to celebrate "a whole priesthood" is a call to imagine a priesthood that is inclusive of all. It is something we work toward each and every day.

We have 500 buttons to send to the next 500 donors! 

​These are limited edition. 

When you get yours, be sure to take a picture and share with a friend so they can get one too.
#50Years #PhiladelphiaEleven #TelltheStory

Support for this project has been provided by many individuals, and the following organizations:

Episcopal Women's History Project