The First American Woman Ordained

Before she was nine years old, Antoinette Louisa Brown joined her Congregational church as a result of hearing Charles Finney's message.

From an early age, Antoinette made herself and her longings known to her family. In 1846, her burning desire to go to college and join the ministry, resulted in her attending Oberlin College. Eventually, she became the first woman in the country to be ordained into the ministry.

Oberlin College was known for the evangelical theology it taught and its commitment to educating women. In 1847, Antoinette received the degree women of that day were awarded, a literary degree. She stayed on for three more years to train for the ministry but was refused enrollment for a theology degree.

Since the college faculty declined to ordain her, Antoinette left Ohio and headed for New York where she worked in the slums. Shortly after that, she began a career as an independent lecturer.

Not long after that, the Congregational church in South Butler, New York, invited her to come and be a part of their ministry. Antoinette became ordained at the church in September of 1853.

You can read more about her at http://www.anb.org/articles