 McAfee is unique in the history of women leaders in the church, since she was already a young adult before the Presbyterian Church began ordaining women as elders.In fact, she had already served as vice-president of the National Council of Churches for a number of years before the first woman was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1956.Unlike her female contemporaries, McAfee's significance to the church, as well as her service to her country, did not come through women's organizations, Christian education, or missionary work.