The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (Solidarity Stole)

Sixteen graduating seniors (of 26) at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia have written a letter to Bishop H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, calling for continuing conversation and review of the ELCA’s position on ordination, consecration, and commissioning of gay and lesbian persons.

Sent late last month, the letter was the outcome of a process of prayer and conversation over the course of the semester, including a day-long retreat. It was copied to all synodical bishops, the Division for Ministry, Commission for Women, Candidacy Committees of Region 7, and the other seven ELCA seminaries.

Class co-president Margaret Spring said, “Over the past few years we have witnessed a number of friends make the difficult decision between their call to ordained ministry and to their call to a committed relationship with a person of the same gender. We feel it is time to add our voices to the church’s conversation about issues of sexuality and rostered ministry. It is our hope that even as we graduate from the seminary that this conversation will be on-going, at LTSP as well as the wider church. We are delighted that several continuing students have committed themselves to this process.”

It is our hope and prayer that the leadership gifts of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters will soon be fully received and celebrated by the ELCA.


Steven J. Bohannon
John Meulendyk
Thomas Wilson
Peggy M. Wuertele
Margaret J. Spring
Louisa D. Groce
Llewellyn M. Lantz
Kent R. Lee
Thomas E. Maehl
Karen L. Weber
Scott J. Paradise
Rebecca W. Knox
Kathleen A. Ash-Flashner
Jennifer Schoonmaker Hitt

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.