The Philadelphia Eleven (working title)
Eleven women were ordained Episcopal priests against church rules in Philadelphia in 1974. They hit a chord, in a deeply divided world, by questioning who speaks the word of God. The media caught on, and the women priests were thrust into an international limelight. In 1975 four more women were ordained priests. At the time of the ordinations, the women were on a personal journey of faith. Each woman had to decide how to live out her priesthood in the face of an institution that did not accept her. This is a feature documentary film that will tell the story of these women priests in their words.
Why now?
It will inspire a new generation. The patriarchy is flexing its muscles again. This is a story about women who followed their call, and in doing so challenged society to acknowledge them. We can learn lessons from those whose shoulders we stand on.
This struggle continues. It is still a challenge to be a woman priest; and women are still kept from the biggest decision-making tables around the globe.
This is a story of liberation. We believe that all the major religious traditions will need to address equality within their earthly structures in order for our societies to truly respect the human right for each and every one of us to live to our full potential. These changes will need to come from within. As The Rev. Carter Heyward says, "we had to be the architects of our own liberation."
Time is of the essence. Many of the "eleven" are with us, but they are quickly aging.
This struggle continues. It is still a challenge to be a woman priest; and women are still kept from the biggest decision-making tables around the globe.
This is a story of liberation. We believe that all the major religious traditions will need to address equality within their earthly structures in order for our societies to truly respect the human right for each and every one of us to live to our full potential. These changes will need to come from within. As The Rev. Carter Heyward says, "we had to be the architects of our own liberation."
Time is of the essence. Many of the "eleven" are with us, but they are quickly aging.
Join us in this journey!
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Timeline:
Documentary films are long endeavors. We began filming intermittently in 2015 with the goal of finishing as soon as is feasible. Donations help move the project along. Feel free to contact us anytime with questions.
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You can make a tax-deductible online donation via PayPal by clicking the button below.
You may also send a check, payable to DER. Write "Philadelphia Eleven" in the memo line and mail the check to:
Documentary Educational Resources
108 Water Street 5A
Watertown, MA 02472
Documentary Educational Resources
108 Water Street 5A
Watertown, MA 02472
The Team
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DIRECTOR
PRODUCER Margo Guernsey Margo began her film career in 2010 as a producer at WPBT2 (Miami). Councilwoman, her first feature documentary, is touring the country, and will air on PBS's America ReFramed in the fall of 2019. Over the past 20 years, Margo has worked as a union organizer, non-profit development director, Spanish/English translator and media instructor, always building multi-racial collaborations across class lines to inform the work of building a more just society. Margo brings her organizing, fundraising and filmmaking background to work on film outreach and impact. She holds an MFA in Film (University of Miami), MA in History (Umass/Amherst), BA in History (Brown University), and is a Tribeca/Camden/CNNFilms Retreat Alumni. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Co-PRODUCER Nikki is a director of photography based in Boston. Her work ranges from independent documentaries to high-end commercial projects. Recent broadcast credits include: Councilwoman (America Re-Framed, 2019), Breaking Big (PBS 2018), Seeing Eyes/Feeling Heart (American Masters 2018), NOVA “Addiction” (2018), NOVA “Prediction by the Numbers" (2017), Frontline (2017, 2015). Her documentary and nonprofit cinematography work has taken her across the U.S., and to Thailand, Ireland and South Sudan. Nikki graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University in 2002 with a BS in Television, Radio and Film Production. |
Support
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This program is supported in part by 592 Kickstarter backers, The Episcopal Women's History Project, MassHumanities and LEF Moving Image Fund. Our fiscal sponsor is Documentary Educational Resources.