Solidarity Stole (Church of Reconciliation)

Dear Reverend Juillerat,
We obtained this stole during last summer's trip to El Centro Evangelico Mam, a Presbyterian mission supported by our church and located near San Juan Ostuncalco in the western highlands of Guatemala.  The Mam are one of the 28 Mayan Indian tribes in Guatemala, and have their own Presbytery in the Synod of Guatemala.  The weaver of this stole may well have learned her weaving at the Mam Center as part of the Center's ministry to empower widows of the "disappeared" to become self-sufficient.  The stole probably was woven by one of the widows.

We, the members of the Session, are sending the stole in support of your ministry of reconciling all diversities of persons to God's love.  We proclaim with this brilliant purple stole the inclusivity statement of our church:  "…Neither race, nor gender, nor ethnic origin, nor sexual orientation, neither age, nor infirmity, neither marital status, nor educational background, neither economic condition, nor any other aspect of personhood, will divide this Christian community, this household of God.  For we are one in that which is God."

With support and love,
Your sisters and brothers of the Session
The Church of Reconciliation

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).  In offering this stole, the Church of Reconciliation chose a poignant symbol of solidarity with the oppressed, and added to it a personal statement of support from the Session that touched me deeply.

 Founded in 1967 with a commitment to racial reconciliation, inclusiveness and hospitality, the Church of Reconciliation is the only More Light congregation in North Carolina, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church.  Since sending their stole for inclusion in that very first display in 1995, Church of Reconciliation has arranged to have a small display of stoles at every single meeting of New Hope Presbytery for the past eleven years.

 Martha Juillerat

Founder, Shower of Stoles Project

2006