Erwin C. Barron

Erwin C. Barron

I have been your pastor for ten years, ten years of weekly wearing this stole to worship a loving God.
Ten years of teaching your children and youth with questions, explorations, faith and hugs.
Ten years of marrying your brides and grooms with laughter and joy.
Ten years of burying your loved ones with tears and shared grief.
Ten years of studying the Bible together, exploring God's word for our lives.
Ten years of living the Christian life together, traveling God's journey together.
Yet, you did not know me, for I hid in fear and secrecy.
And when, finally, God sent me the love of my life, when we committed ourselves in faith and covenant to live together in love, you reject me!

As an honest, loving, "partnered" gay man, I cannot be your pastor, cannot wear this stole.  I do not fit your view of morality, your exclusive club.  So, I must leave the Presbyterian ministry, with tears and regret, but leave I must.
 Sending this stole as my witness.

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).

Over the years we were asked a number of times to change something written on a stole, ususally because someone who had been closeted was now out and wanted to add their name, or to amend a story.  This particular stole saw three different manifestations.  We first received it in 1995, identified only by the initials "E.B."  About a year later, Erwin sent us a letter telling us that he had decided to leave his very successful youth ministry position at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.  He and his partner were planning a commitment ceremony, and he no longer felt he could remain closeted.  Although he felt this would be the end of his career in parish ministry, he wasn't sure what would come next, so he asked that we add his new story anonymously.

About a year later, though, Erwin finally was ready to add the third and most important piece to his stole -- his full name.

Erwin was President of the founding Board of the Shower of Stoles Project before returning to graduate school to pursue a PhD in ethics.  He is now living in California.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006