The Historical Society of the Episcopal Church is pleased to announce the Rev. Paula D. Nesbitt as the recipient of the 2025 Nelson R. Burr Prize. Nesbitt is a priest of the Episcopal Diocese of California and Visiting Professor of Sociology of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

The award honors her article, “Feminization of the Priesthood at Fifty—and the Journey Ahead,” published in the June 2024 issue of Anglican and Episcopal History (Vol. 93, No. 2). The Society’s Publications Committee selected the article for its well-reasoned narrative, engaging thesis, and its exemplary demonstration of historical scholarship and analysis.

Nesbitt’s article skillfully explores the breadth of transformation in the Episcopal Church since the mid-1970s, particularly relating to sexuality, gender, and the evolving role of women in ordained ministry. The Committee praised the article as a compelling and thought-provoking contribution to understanding a pivotal half-century in Episcopal history.

The Burr Prize is named in honor of Nelson R. Burr, a distinguished historian whose seminal work, A Critical Bibliography of Religion in America (1961), remains a cornerstone in the field of religious historiography. The prize is awarded annually to the author of the most outstanding article published in Anglican and Episcopal History, the Society’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal. The award recognizes scholarly excellence and innovation in the study of Anglican and Episcopal history.

Articles receiving the Burr Prize, including Nesbitt’s, may be accessed at hsec.us/Nelson-Burr-Prize. Printed copies are also available by contacting Matthew P. Payne, Director of Operations of the Society, at mpayne@hsec.us or (920) 383-1910.

of the most outstanding article in the quarterly, peer-reviewed journal. The award recognizes that which best exemplifies excellence and innovative scholarship in the field of Anglican and Episcopal history.

A copy of articles of Burr Prize recipients may be found at hsec.us/Nelson-Burr-Prize.