St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church (Signature Stole)

In 1993 St. Paul-Reformation Luther developed a long range plan. Among the plan’s primary goals was to call and ordain an openly gay or lesbian pastor by the year 2000.

After careful and prayerful study, discussion and exploration of ways to achieve our goal, the congregation voted in December 2000 to extend a call to Anita Hill, a lesbian in a committed relationship. The congregation made this decision despite the ELCA’s prohibition against gays and lesbians in committed relationships serving as pastors. The vote was 176 to 0. And with that vote, our congregation affirmed that it could no longer, in good conscience, abide by a policy it considered unjust and at odds with the gospel.

Though it is Anita who has been ordained, her ordination belongs to the entire congregation. Her witness, her willingness to stand on the front line and carry the flag on the issue of gay and lesbian ordinations has been an inspiration to us all. With our unanimous vote, we have said we will no longer simply stand behind her, but we are prepared now to stand right alongside her as the struggle for justice continues.

The stole that travels in this exhibit is signed by the members of St. Paul-Reformation as a reminder that we are all on the call and ordination journey together.

Originally a part of the collection of stoles housed by ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation, this stole was donated by them to the Shower of Stoles Project in 2015.