Shawn MacDonald

THE REV. SHAWN MACDONALD

This is the stole I wore on the day of my ordination, January 8, 1989, by the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.  It has the lipstick and coffee stains of years of ministry.  But, like my ordination itself, it means little in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

This stoles travels with the Shower of Stoles display until the time when I can wear it again with the assurance of the blessing of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

This stole was given to us anonymously in late 1995.  In 1999, we received the following note and added the story accordingly:

This Friday, January 8, will be the tenth anniversary of my ordination.  A little over half of that time I have known that I am lesbian, and for the last year, I have been officially out, having sent a letter to my fellow presbyters this time last year.  This Sunday we ordained elders, and it just happened that we sang some of the same hymns as were sung at my ordination, and I cried.  But I was aware that the stole I wore was not my ordination stole.

Mine is in the Shower of Stoles, number [seventy]-something, I've seen it every year or so.  Could you change the tag to read This stole was worn by Rev. Shawn MacDonald on her ordination, January 8, 1989 by the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.  It travels with this display until the time when she can wear it again with the assurance of the blessing of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Under the rainbow in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006