Eily Marlow

EILY MARLOW
Associate Chaplain

Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

In a denomination that has constitutionally banned the ordination of LGBT persons, Eily Marlow's own ordination was no small accomplishment.  An "out" lesbian, Eily spent years sharing her faith journey and call to ministry with her home congregation and pastors, and with key members of Milwaukee Presbytery, until she was received by the presbytery as a Candidate for Ministry.  She spent two more years methodically sharing her story and building support within the presbytery until finally, on Feb. 23, 2005, she was cleared for ordination.  It was a remarkable achievement both for Eily and for Milwaukee Presbytery, which handled her candidacy and the ensuing debate over her fitness for ministry with grace and decorum, knowing that charges could be filed against them at any time for having taken this action.

At a post-ordination reception at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, where she had been serving as an Associate Chaplain throughout her long ordeal, Eily was celebrated for the personal effort that made this possible, and for the impact it would have across the denomination.  Later, while talking with a few of her Presbyterian LGBT friends, Eily tearfully shared the mixed emotions she felt at her ordination: "I feel as though the presbytery finally was able to push me up and over the barbed wire fence.  I got torn up and bloodied in the process, but I got to other side.  The minute I landed there, though, I turned around and looked back through the fence and saw all of you there...  I swear I will never forget the privilege of being on this side, and I'll keep working to tear that fence down!"

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006