When Joe was promoted to principal of Arbor View Elementary School, he started to consider resigning from his pastoral position.
Lombard was already the first church in their conference to use an organ regularly, have a permanent choir, and to have most females attend worship without a covering.
[2] During the spring of 1972, conference's leadership commission recommended that Emma receive a pastoral licence for a period of time before ordination be re-examined.
They expressed that Emma's call to ministry, education, and experience were not being questioned, and that the only issue being addressed was the fact that she was a woman.
A committee that included men and women was formed to address the issue, and eventually recommended the ordination of Emma Richard to the conference.
Emma Richard's installation service was held at LMC on October 15, 1972, but she was not officially ordained by the conference until June 17, 1973.
[2] Emma Richards was invited to preach during Sunday morning service at the Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg, France, in 1984.