Rosa Gutknecht

Laura Elisabeth Rosa Gutknecht (1885–1959) was a German-born Swiss theologian and cleric. In 1918, together with Elise Pfister, she was one of the first two women to graduate in theology. The same year, both were ordained as pastors of the Reformed Church of Zürich. They are considered to be the first women in Europe to be ordained as pastors.

Biography Born in Ludwigshafen, Germany, on 18 May 1885, Laura Elisabeth Rosa Gutknecht was brought up in Chur before she studied to become a teacher in Zürich. After working as a teacher for eight years, she studied theology at the University of Zurich, graduating in 1918. Together with her friend Elise Pfister, she was ordained the same year. Appointed as assistant pastors at Zurich's Grossmünster, the two were principally involved in social work. In 1939, Gutknecht founded and was the first president of the Swiss Association of Female Theologians.

Rosa Gutknecht retired from her Grossmünster position in 1953. She died in Zürich on 21 November 1959.