Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29328-2003Mar25.html

On March 26, 2003 The Washington Post reported that "meeting in Washington, the Central Conference of American Rabbis is scheduled to elect Rabbi Janet Ross Marder, 48, of Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, Calif., to a two-year term as its president... 'The Reform movement has articulated the notion that men and women are religiously equal since the 19th century. But it wasn't until 1972 that we ordained a woman rabbi, and it took 30 years for a woman to be named president,' Marder said in an interview. 'So it's taken some time for those values to be translated into action...' Marder's election is a formality, because she has served for two years as vice president, placing her in line to succeed to the top post. Her ascension reflects the steadily growing number of women rabbis in the United States since the first, Sally J. Priesand of Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls, N.J., was ordained three decades ago."