Anonymous (First African Methodist Episcopal Church stole)

ANONYMOUS

AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Sent  anonymously  by  a  same gender
loving,  ordained   Itinerant   Elder  in  the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.  This
stole symbolizes  the  pain  and  silence  of
so  many  within  this  historic  black
denomination founded on the freedom
and  dignity  of all  God's  children.  It
comes  with  the  prayer  that  the  African
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  may  one  day
truly be a liberating and reconciling people.

Until that  day  is  realized  for  the  Church  of
Allen*  and  the  universal  church,  I  remain in
unity,  struggle,  and  prayer,

Anonymous

*Richard Allen was the first pastor ordained in the
AME in 1816 at Bethel Chapel in Philadelphia

This stole was sent to us without a return address, and we have no other information about the donor.  As of this writing, it is the only one we have received representing someone from the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Since its inclusion in the collection, several African Americans, particularly United Methodists, have expressed their gratitude for its being displayed around the country, acknowledging that dialogue around LGBT issues in that denomination has barely begun.  It is our hope that this stole will spark more dialogue and, hopefully, more progress towards the full embrace of LGBT folk in the AME church.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006