Elder from Central Presbyterian Church, Louisville KY

Ten identical white stoles with rainbow ribbons are from Central Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.  They honor the ten self-identified gay and lesbian elders who have served on Central's session since the church became a More Light Church in the early 1980's.  These stoles were made by a young man who is a custom lampshade maker by trade, with the church's hope that they "will speak to the whole church for all of us who are part of its life, even though the church may not know it."

Central Presbyterian was one of the early More Light congregations, the first in Kentucky, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church.  Central practiced what it preached, ordaining LGBT persons as elders from the time they first became More Light.  This stole is one of ten beautiful white satin stoles created by a talented artisan in the congregation for display at the 1996 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006