Signature Stole (Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, Paradise Valley AZ)

PALO CRISTI
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Paradise Valley, Arizona

At Palo Cristi, we believe that as ambassadors of
Gods love through the Body of Christ we are called
To embrace, welcome and celebrate the diversity
And mystery of all Gods people.  We believe God
Calls us to be an inclusive community which in its
Worship, ministry, and mission, makes every effort
To bring people closer to God and to each other.
Therefore, we are committed to expressions of
Faith that do not exclude persons because of
Gender, race, class, age, physical differences,
Sexual orientation, ethnicity, or nationality.

As our church continues to live up to our creed of
reformed and ever-reforming, we will constantly
Seek avenues of providing a loving and non-
judgmental environment for all members and
Friends of Palo Cristi in which they may find the
Wholeness of Gods love for all people.

Palo Cristi is a More Light Church.  More Light
Presbyterians are individual members and
Congregations of the Presbyterian Church
(USA) who are faithful to Gods call and believe
That God continues to open new understandings
Of scripture and the Word in the life of Christ.
As a Christian community, we believe that the
Church must seek to live out those understandings
In our life together.

(Note: A signature stole is one that is covered with the signatures of both gay and straight members of a congregation, denominational governing body, or other organization.  These stoles serve the dual purpose of showing support for LGBT persons, while also protecting their anonymity by including their names as "one among many".)

Palo Cristi is a "small but mighty" church, born twenty years ago of a merger between Camelback and Sunrise Presbyterian Churches near Phoenix, AZ.  A diverse congregation of White, Black, Latino and Asian members, straight and LGBT, Palo Cristi has continued the longstanding commitments to social justice held by both predecessor congregations.  A More Light church committed to the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life and leadership of the church, Palo Cristi also is invested in community development projects in southern Mexico and Central America, and locally in its work with refugees and the homeless. The faith and work of these 200 congregants is a clear reflection of their declaration, "We are all bound together into one community by the love of God and a desire to serve God in the way that Jesus showed us."

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006