John Allen

John Allen
Member of the Downtown United Presbyterian Church
Rochester, New York,
since 1995

This is one of about two dozen stoles donated by staff and members of Downtown United Presbyterian Church.

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 Presbyterian 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.

Martha Juillerat

Founder, Shower of Stoles Project

2006