Alan Jon Snyder

Alan Jon Snyder
Elder

This stole was one of the original 80 stoles that were on display on Sept. 16, 1995 when I set aside my ordination before Heartland Presbytery (see stole #1 for details).

Rev. Carol Seaton made this stole to honor her former husband, Alan Snyder, an ordained Presbyterian Elder and school teacher.  Alan "came out" as a gay man in 1987.  He and Carol, who was on staff at Heartland Presbytery and also pastoring a small church, divorced a short time later but remained good friends.

Carol later served on the national staff of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Louisville, KY before finally moving to the Atlanta area.  She served on the local and national boards of More Light Presbyterians and was a founding board member of the Shower of Stoles Project, remaining one of the Project's most dedicated volunteers for ten years.  Carol also holds the distinction of having first introduced me to my partner, Tammy Lindahl, twenty years ago.  For that, we will be forever grateful!

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006