Anonymous Student (College of Wooster; "THE CHURCH DOES NOT WANT ME")

THE CHURCH DOES NOT WANT ME

Anonymous
Michigan

I am a Presbyterian college student.  I was one of the most active youth in my church; even with 1,300 members, everyone, including the pastors, knew me.  When I announced to my family and youth pastor at age 15 that I wanted to be a minister, I was received with congratulations and words of support.  At the time, I did not know that the PC(USA) was involved in institutional prejudice.  Now that I am aware, I unfortunately will never be ordained.  I am bisexual and I will not serve in silence.  I can not, in good conscience, lie to my church about who I am, nor do I believe it should be necessary.  It is for this last reason that I have remained a member of the PC(USA):  I have a responsibility to work for change.

This anonymous student was instrumental in organizing a large stoles display and series of programs at the College of Wooster in 1998, in conjunction with Westminster Presbyterian Church, the college's "congregation in residence."  She found a place of welcome as an "out" bisexual woman at both Wooster and Westminster .  However, this welcome stopped with the Presbyterian denomination, and her call to the ministry remains unrealized.

The College of Wooster was founded by Presbyterians, and although it it now fully independent the college maintains close ties to the denomination.  Wooster boasts a long commitment to progressive values; the first PhD in the college's history was awarded to a woman, Annie Irish, in 1882.  The college admitted its first Black students in the 1880's and has always maintained an internationally diverse student body.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006