In Trinidad and Tobago, Molly Ahye, a 62 year old mother of three and grandmother of ten, was installed as the new high priestess of the Opa Orisha (Shango) of Trinidad and Tobago, at an historic ceremony on June 8. Her official title is lyalorisha. Orisha is a Yoruba religious culture in which different divinities, or powers called Orisha, are worshipped. Are searcher of African traditions, Ahye holds a Master of Arts degree in the performing arts from the American University, Washington, D.C. and is now a doctoral candidate at New York University, in dance in higher education.  

Barbados' Anglican community embraced a new era in its 170 year old history with the ordination of the country's first female deacons on July 25 1994. Witnessed by a congregation of several hundred, Sonia Hinds, 34, and BeverleySealey,31, solemnly accepted the charge of deacons.

The investiture which took place during a two and a half hour ceremony at St. Michael's Cathedral, was attended by Governor General Dame Nita Barrow and other dignitaries. Close friends from Codrington College, England, where they both earned degrees in theology, Sonia and Beverley decided to seek ordination together

Barbados voted for female ordination in 1980. Despite this, the Province of the West Indies, of which the island is a member, moved only a few years ago to sanction ordination to the diaconate but has fallen short of the two-thirds majority required for admission to the priesthood. Jamaica is the only other Caribbean country to ordain women as deacons.

Just three weeks earlier, the Church of England announced the loss of 139 clergymen since the ordination of women priests this year.

Source: CAFRA News, Vol. 8 No. 3, July-September 1994.