Member, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester NY

From a member of Downtown United Presbyterian Church
Rochester, New York

This is one of about two dozen stoles donated by members of DUPC in early 1996.  Most of the stoles arrived without names or narratives.  However, we have been told that most of the donors are "out" LGBT persons, unnamed but not necessarily anonymous.

DUPC was at the center of a pivotal moment in the history of the Welcoming movement in the Presbyterian Church.  In 1978 the General Assembly acted to bar the ordination of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals."  However, an exception was added to the action which exempted those ordained before 1978 from future judicial action.  This clause allowed DUPC in 1991 to call the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr to become a co-pastor of the church; Janie had been ordained prior to 1978.  However, the church broke its trust and in 1991 the denomination's highest judicial body barred Janie from being installed.  In response, DUPC called Janie to be an "Evangelist," and formed That All May Freely Serve to allow Janie to preach, educate and challenge church structures at DUPC and throughout the country.

(Note: The decorations on this stole were created with construction paper.  The netting was added later to protect this delicate material from damage.)

Martha Juillerat

Founder, Shower of Stoles Project

2006