Levison, Mary (1923–)

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Levison, Mary (1923–)

English Presbyterian minister. Born Mary Irene Lusk, 1923, in Oxford, England; University of Edinburgh, BA and BD; studied philosophy at Oxford University and theology at Universities of Edinburgh, Heidelberg and Basel.

Presbyterian reformer and minister who helped bring about change in Church of Scotland's policy toward ordination of women, began work as deaconess (1954); became assistant chaplain to Edinburgh University; petitioned General Assembly to be ordained to Ministry of Word and Sacrament (1963), setting in motion the debate which culminated in ordination of women (1968), though Catherine McConachie of Aberdeen was the 1st woman ordained; ordained to serve as assistant minister at St. Andrew's and St. George's Parish Church in Edinburgh (1978); served as 1st woman chaplain to Queen (1991–93) and extra chaplain to Queen in Scotland (from 1993).

See also memoir, Wrestling with the Church (1992).