June 24, 2009 — The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin is about to ordain its first woman. On Saturday, June 27, the Rev. Suzanne (Suzy) Ward, will be ordained a priest by Bishop Jerry Lamb at Church of the Saviour in Hanford, California.

The Diocese of San Joaquin has never before ordained a woman. Under its former bishp, John-David Schofield, it was one of three dioceses of The Episcopal Church that blocked women from ordained ministry. All three dioceses voted to leave The Episcopal Church and are now reorganized or reorganizing.

San Joaquin has enjoyed the services of many female deacons over the years. It now has four active women priests.

The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera will preach at Saturday’s service. She is suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Olympia and is well-known in the Diocese of San Joaquin, as she is the daughter of the late Victor Rivera, third bishop of San Joaquin.

Suzy and husband Jon have been married for 30 years. Jon teaches third grade and Suzy teaches kindergarten in Tulare, California. The couple has two grown children. Annalissa is an attorney, and Jon-Ethan is a staff sergeant in the National Guard. Jon-Ethan is currently deployed to Iraq, but he plans to watch his mother’s ordination via the Internet.