Solidarity Stole (South Presbyterian)

LET THERE BE LIGHT

South Presbyterian Church
Dobbs Ferry, NY

(Note: A “signature stole” is one that is covered with the signatures of both gay and straight members of a congregation, denominational governing body, or other organization.  These stoles serve the dual purpose of showing support for LGBT persons, while also protecting their anonymity by including their names as "one among many".)

 South Church, located just north of Manhattan and Yonkers, NY, has a long history of social justice activism locally and nationally, particularly on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.  Their public declarations stating their intention to ignore the Presbyterian Church's ban on LGBT ordination, along with pastor Joseph Gilmore's performance of same-sex marriages, drew fire from the denomination on many occasions.

 In 2005, South Church hosted the ordination of Ray Bagnuolo, and openly gay man, to the Presbyterian ministry.  Reporting on this act of defiance, a newsletter for a far-right organization of Presbyterians stated: South Church is the unvanquished Alamo of homosexual activists and their allies in the PCUSA, having successfully fended off a number of attempts to require the session and the church's senior minister, Joseph Gilmore, to conform to Presbyterian polity. Given the source, South Church and Gilmore accepted their "Alamo" designation as a point of pride. 

 A More Light congregation, South Church continues its work for the full inclusion of LGBT people into the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Martha Juillerat

Founder, Shower of Stoles Project

2006

Click here to read Ray Bagnuolo's biographic profile in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profile Gallery.