Black History Month: The Courageous Leadership of Barbara Harris

Continuing our Black History Month series, we give thanks for the life and witness of The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, a leader whose ministry changed the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion forever.

In 1989, Barbara Harris became the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church and in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Her election as Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Massachusetts marked a historic moment not only for women in ministry, but also for the ongoing work of racial and gender equality within the Church.

Harris came to ordained ministry after years of faithful service in the world. Before becoming a priest, she worked in public relations and was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in Freedom Rides and voter registration efforts. Her passion for justice was rooted in her Christian faith and never left her.

Ordained a priest in 1980, she was elected bishop just eight years later. The path was not easy. Her election faced strong opposition from some quarters, yet Bishop Harris responded with grace, humor, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel.

Throughout her ministry she insisted that the Church must reflect the inclusive love of Christ. She encouraged young leaders, stood with those on the margins, and reminded the Church that courage and compassion belong together.

Bishop Harris died in 2020, but her legacy continues in every woman and every person of color who serves in ordained leadership today. She showed the world that faithful obedience to God can open doors no one imagined possible.

As we remember her this month, we give thanks for her bold witness and for the many lives changed by her ministry.

Photo: The Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris, at her historic consecration service on Feb. 11, 1989. Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Photo: David Zadig