Rick Fisher

RICK FISHER
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Rick Fisher, who lost his position as a full-time church musician after "coming out" to the church's pastor, dedicates this stole "On behalf of the many gay musicians who serve and have served the church."

This stole was one of the original 80 stoles that were on display on Sept. 16, 1995 when I set aside my ordination before Heartland Presbytery (see stole #1 for details).

Rick Fisher was the well regarded full-time Director of Music at a large church in New Jersey when he came out to the church's senior pastor; he was fired shortly thereafter. This devastated Rick, a man of great talent, immense integrity and deep faith He was unemployed for a time before finding work in Missouri. He managed to keep his sense of humor, though. That Christmas he and his partner, Randy Hite, sent their friends a letter with several photos of either Rick or Randy standing next to the "Wecome To..." sign for every state they crossed driving from New Jersey to western Missouri, including a couple of unflattering shots taken in the middle of the night for which one or the other had been rousted from nap.

Rick's artistic talents and business acumen have been welcomed in Kansas City. He is now the Executive Director of the Heartland Men's Chorus, one of the most highly respected smaller-city choruses in the United States.

Rick's stole has a unique place in the Shower of Stoles collection for several reasons. Shortly after being fired from his New Jersey job, Rick sent us a stole of the sort that would be worn with a choir robe. It was the first stole received from someone who was not an ordained pastor or elder. It is significant that Rick chose not only to represent himself with this stole but also to dedicate it to all gay musicians who have served the church. Because it is obviously the stole of a musician it has caught the eye of other musicians; as a result the collection now has over two dozen stoles from professional church musicians.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006