Policies on Female Clergy by Lori Sharn, USA TODAY
Southern Baptist Convention: 15.7 million. A 1984 resolution declares "the Scriptures teach that women are not in public worship to assume a role of authority over men." However, each church is autonomous. Some churches with female pastors have been kicked out of local associations.
United Methodist Church: 8.5 million. Women received full rights as ordained elders in 1956.
National Baptist Convention: USA, Inc. 8.2 million. There are no rules against ordaining women; however it has not been the custom. A few pastors have ordained women.
Church of God in Christ: 5.5 million. The Pentecostal denomination officially does not ordain women. Several bishops have ordained women without being disciplined.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America: 5.2 million. The two major groups which later merged to form the ELCA both began ordaining women, with full equality with men, in 1970.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: 4.7 million. Only men may be ordained to the priesthood.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): 3.7 million. The northern and southern groups that merged to form the national denomination gave female clergy full equality in 1956 and 1964 respectively.
National Baptist Convention of America: 3.5 million. There are no rules against ordaining women, however it has not been the custom. A few pastors have ordained women.
African Methodist Episcopal Church: 3.5 million. Women were allowed to become fully ordained clergy in 1960.
Judaism: The Reform and Conservative branches ordain female rabbis. The Orthodox branch does not.
Islam: Women may not lead men in prayers.