Jamie ("Jamie, my friend")

We know nothing about the honoree or donor of this stole.  It arrived along with about 30 stoles from Rutgers Church in New York, but had no accompanying note.  Something about it, though, has touched people over the years.  Its simplicity -- a cross cut from braided string, a cut-out moon and sequin stars on black cloth -- and the few words written so carefully in silver ink, have stopped many people and made them ask of me, "What can you tell me about Jamie?"  We have no answer to the question -- it remains in the the air, and leaves a sadness.  The church's forced silence has left us with one more story -- one more person -- that we will never know.

Established in 1798 in lower Manhattan, Rutgers has a long history of involvement in social justice and community development issues.  Rutgers is a More Light congregation, working for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church.  Along with More Light Presbyterians, Rutgers is a sponsor of Presbyterian Welcome (an affiliate of That All May Freely Serve) and the Covenant Network in their common pursuit for the end of discrimination against LGBT persons in the Presbyterian Church.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006