Speakers: Rev. Kathryn L. Pocalyko; Elizabeth (Lizz) Goldstein; Mother Philene M. Ware Dunn; Valerie Kenyon Gaffney; and Nancy Osborne

Presented by the Lifelong Learning Institute, Manassas

This event is open to the public. For more information about the Lifelong Learning Institute, Manassas, visit lli-manassas.org

The 1970s marked a transformative period for American women, particularly in religious leadership. This era saw the ordination of the first female Lutheran pastor (1970), Reform rabbi (1972), and Episcopal priest (1974), breaking longstanding gender barriers in faith communities. In this panel discussion with Pastor Katie, Rabbi Lizz, and Mother Philene, we will examine their religious backgrounds, motivations for entering the ministry, challenges encountered, current issues in their roles, and perspectives on how their experiences as women may differ from those of their male counterparts. This promises to be an engaging and insightful conversation on the evolving role of women in religious leadership today.

Rev. Kathryn L. Pocalyko is the Senior Pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Manassas, making history as the first woman to hold this position. Prior to her current role, she served congregations in New York City; Richmond, Virginia; and Rockville, Maryland, bringing her passion for Lutheran worship and music to diverse communities. Fluent in Spanish, Pastor Katie is dedicated to fostering intergenerational relationships and actively engaging with the local community. Raised in Fairfax County, she is honored to serve in her hometown area—a calling she never anticipatedbut now embraces wholeheartedly.

Elizabeth (Lizz) Goldstein, originally from Branford, CT, was inspired to pursue the rabbinate in 2004. She earned her undergraduate degree from Hampshire College in genocide studies, a Master’s in Jewish Studies from Gratz College, and was ordained by the Academy of Jewish Religion in 2016. Rabbi Goldstein serves the Ner Shalom community in Northern Virginia and residesin Vienna with her family. She is actively engaged in Tikkun Olam initiatives, was a Global Justice Fellow with American Jewish World Service, and is a member of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. Her work is dedicated to advancing social justice through Jewish values and history.

Mother Philene M. Ware Dunn is one of two supply priests at Trinity Episcopal Church in Manassas. She graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally from the Rio Grande Valley, Mother Philene also enjoys serving the Spanish-speaking community. On a personal note, she and her husband, Paul, met on a blind date and decided to marry just eight days later, after their third date. Over forty-three years later, they have four grown children and three grandchildren. Despite this, they are not yet empty nesters, as they currently share their home with four lively “COVID kitties.”