That's the name of the new international coalition of groups working for Roman Catholic priestly ordination of women. WOW was created July 24 when nine members of Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) from the U.S. convened a caucus at the International Women's Synod in Gmunden, Austria. Women from eleven countries and six continents either attended or sent written support. Meeting, appropriately, in an upper room, 50 women applauded when British theologian Sheila Briggs came up with the WOW name and acronym for the new network.

The WOW steering committee includes representatives of women's ordination groups in Spain, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and the U.S. WOC, led by national coordinator Andrea Johnson, will serve as chair for the first two years. Concerted actions are planned: the first will be a worldwide day of prayer for women's ordinaton on March 25, 1997. A goal for mid-1988 is a strategy planning meeting with representation from all groups worldwide. The next step will be a much larger rally in Rome marking the millennium in the year 2000.

To learn more, and to support the movement, contact WOC, P.O. Box 2693, Fairfax VA 22031. (703) 352-1006.