Anonymous (Ohio: "I grew up as a child of the Presbyterian church... But since my late teens I had known clearly...")

ANONYMOUS
Ohio

I grew up as a child of the Presbyterian Church and entered adulthood secure in its bounds.  In my middle years I felt keenly the call to ministry.  But since my late teens I had known clearly - though had not chosen to live - my lesbian orientation and identity, and by the time I felt the sense of call the church had taken official action that would prevent my ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament.  Thus, although I longed to attend seminary and seriously considered enrolling, I finally concluded that I would have to find other ways to respond to God's call.  Today, I serve the congregation of which I am a member as I am able and in silence.

My professional work is with young adults, many of whom are openly struggling on their faith journeys, engaging in questions of identity and vocation, squaring off against the constraints our church imposes on them.  I believe that by listening to these young persons, by hearing them into speech, I am in some way, if only partially, fulfilling my call.

May all of us join with the next generation in prayer, work and hope, that together we may birth an open and affirming community of faith.

This stole was given to me in 1999 when I passed through Ohio with a display of the stoles.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006