Rev. Elizabeth Platz, the first woman ordained by the LCA, was born and raised in Pittsburgh. When she received a scholarship to attend college, her parents, though not college educated themselves, encouraged her to take advantage. Platz graduated from Chattham University in 1962 with a degree in history.
While at Chattham, she discovered an interest in theological history and decided to continue her studies with a degree in systemic theology. Thus, she enrolled in Gettysburg Seminary (now United Lutheran Seminary). There she discovered that women were expected to major in education. Undeterred, Platz met with the university president, Dr. Donald Heiges. Dr. Heiges agreed that she could pursue a Bachelor in Divinity with a major in Systemics, as long a she fulfilled all the requirements including preaching, pastoral care, etc. Of this decision Platz later wrote, “I was sure that I had no desire to become a pastor, but I did want to study theology.”
Upon her graduation from seminary in 1965, Platz searched for employment. She eventually found a position as a Lutheran lay minister at the University of Maryland. There she focused on religious education and organizing campus ministries. As she served in this capacity she realized that she wanted “a relationship where I could help students with questions they had about their relationship with God and with one another, including Holy Communion and marriage—things reserved for pastors.”
At the same time, leaders of the LCA’s Lutheran Church Women (LCW) advocated for full participation of women in the church. Gracia Grindal explains that, “The conversation began officially in the LCA in 1966, at the LCA’s second convention, when a study on ministry called for a further look at the ‘question of ordaining women.’” Over the next few years, several subcommittees, as well as seminaries, examined the issue. Ultimately, the June 1970 LCA Convention received the recommendation to allow the ordination of women. “There was nothing in the exercise of the ordained ministry as a functional office that would exclude a woman because of her sex.” On June 29th, the LCA voted to change “man” to “person” in its bylaws. This one word change allowed the ordination of women.
Just a few months later, on November 22, 1970, Dr. Hegis preached at Rev. Platz’s ordination. Though she received many letters and phone calls calling her “satan’s instrument” or “the whore of Babylon,” the support Platz received overwhelmed the negative.
Platz later wrote:
“The core of the story is brought to focus in the mystery of of the sacrament: an awesome, gracious God broken and given new life. My story can but flow from this and it is not my story alone. There have been central and powerful figures, only a few of whom I have mentioned. There are many I shall never know who have made a story of a woman pastor possible: our grandmothers in the faith, scores of faithful deaconesses often lost in the telling of our story, the women of the church serving for generations, the countless hours of discussion, committee work, and exemplary ministry done by women lay leaders and church staff, all preparing the ground for such inclusion.”
Platz continued to serve as Chaplain at The University of Maryland another 42 years, before retiring in 2012. During that time she cooked dinner for the Lutheran Student Association on Tuesdays, and started a project to match university students with elementary students for mentoring and tutoring, among other projects. Platz also continued to advocate for change, including childcare for graduate students. Students and colleagues remembered Platz as an accessible and stabilizing presence.
Sources:
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025, July 31). Elizabeth Platz. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 17:52, September 24, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elizabeth_Platz&oldid=1303587907
- Sala Levin. (2020, November 19). Shattering the lutheran glass ceiling. Maryland Today. https://today.umd.edu/shattering-lutheran-glass-ceiling-69581d92-3569-4a40-b32f-e274f1479e15
- Platz, E., & Grindal, G. (1995). In Lutheran women in Ordained Ministry, 1970-1995: Reflections and perspectives (pp. 33–51). essay, Ausburg.