Anonymous ("Un Ministro Gay e Hispano... A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North")

Porque Dios me amó primero; sólo quiero ser fiel a Él me llamó a servir.

            Un Ministro Gay e Hispano del Norte

Because God loved me first; I just want to be faithful to him and to the Church He called me to serve.

            A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North
 

People occasionally ask about the number of stoles representing people of color. I know that there are quite a few, but it is impossible to establish an exact number. Although a handful have self-identified as people of color, most (especially those who are ordained) have not; as a result the collection has grown to be relatively "colorblind." In many instances the reason is obvious: The mainline Protestant denominations are overwhelmingly White. For example, if an anonymous Presbyterian ordained lay elder were to reveal their race, in a denomination whose membership is 98% White, it wouldn't take much for someone with ill intentions to make assumptions.

At a national church gathering a few years ago, I received a stole in a rather clandestine manner. I had slipped into a large meeting room to take a quick look at a video presentation. It was very difficult to see in the darkened room, so I remained standing against the back wall. Soon, however, someone came up next to me and whispered that he knew who I was, and was hoping I might be able to help him find a way to tell his story. I couldn't make out his face, but he had a distinctly Hispanic accent. He said he couldn't risk identifying his denomination or city; in his tight-knit community would certainly lose his pastorate and would fear for his personal safety. After a quick conversation I thought of a simple way he might "locate" himself without revealing too much: I suggested that he pick a general direction -- east, west, north or south -- to add to his story. He thanked me and disappeared back into the room.

The next day I arrived at our information table. On my chair was a paper bag with my name on it, containing a thin red stole. A pink triangle was sewed on one side; on the other side was a rainbow flag with the earth on it. Below these appliques were two statements:

Porque Dios me amó primero; sólo quiero ser fiel a Él me llamó a servir.

            Un Ministro Gay e Hispano del Norte

 

Because God loved me first; I just want to be faithful to him and to the Church He called me to serve.

            A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006