12 20 857 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Sara Kenilworth United Church of Christ Stole Text Kenilworth United <?xml:namespace prefix = ns0 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Church of Christ<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Buffalo, New York As we sign our names to this stole, we ask that grace fill our hearts. We ask the Holy Spirit to transform this stole into a healing garment; healing those who have been scarred by their exclusion from God’s service. Take this temporal item and let it embody the spirit of our love and support. May each person that touches this stole feel the love and support Kenilworth United Church of Christ offers to our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters. Allow it to inspire others to proudly announce they are allies. This stole is our light in a world of so much darkness and hate. This stole will be our witness that we strive for a world that ALL may serve. In the name of our loving God, may it be so and may it be soon. This stole of Sara’s is given to The Shower of Stoles Project in a spirit of love and support by Kenilworth United Church of Christ, Buffalo, New York, 2006. Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1094 Title A name given to the resource Sara Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Buffalo, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Kenilworth United Church of Christ Clergy Activist Human Rights New York Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) Theology United Church of Christ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. First Presbyterian Church Stole Text First Presbyterian Church<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> <?xml:namespace prefix = ns0 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Fort Wayne, IN First Presbyterian Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana has been located in the heart of the city since the mid-nineteenth century. Like most downtown churches, we have seen the need for reaching out to and serving a wide diversity of people. This has included the gay and lesbian community in our city. The Covenant Triangle fellowship group, Session-adopted statements of inclusiveness, membership in the Covenant Network, and a Committee on Homosexuality and the Church in existence since 1978 as an educational and advocacy group for gays and lesbians are some of the ways we have attempted to minister to and include this group of people who have for too long been excluded and made to feel like second-class citizens of the PCUSA. Our stole displays the acronym for our congregation (FPC), plus the denominational symbol to show our support for a church unified in diversity. The rainbow is shown rising upward in hope and determination that soon our gay and lesbian members will be able to serve fully, openly, and joyfully. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in conjunction with a display of Stoles that they hosted. David Lohman IWR and Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1095 Title A name given to the resource First Presbyterian Church Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource First Presbyterian Church Clergy Activist Covenant Network of Presbyterians Indiana More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Theology https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/1c74eb9c4db758c492adf0e1d617c3ac.jpg 3966c7137953304df6402de083594aca Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Ann B. Day Stole Text Rev. Ann B. Day United Church of Christ Holden, MA In my childhood, Methodists baptized me, Brethrens welcomed my visits, and Southern Presbyterians raised and confirmed me. But while in seminary, I chose the United Church of Christ as my spiritual home. Barely out to myself in the late 1970s, I did not join the UCC primarily because of its lgbt welcome. I joined because the UCC felt spacious and refreshing to me in its particular way of combining Christ-centeredness, ecumenical commitment, and social justice. That my choice has enabled me to serve the Church in the context of a denomination whose General Synod and other bodies have been bellwethers in the struggles for affirmation of same-gender loving/lgbt persons has been an amazing grace. For twenty years (1987-2007), my partner, Donna Enberg, and I had the privilege of serving as staff for the Open and Affirming Program (ONA) of the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns. That there are more than 650 ONA (publicly lgbt-welcoming) churches/settings in the UCC, and that Donna and I are legally married in MA, indicates that things are changing in church and society. For their wonderful company and dedicated work, I am deeply grateful lgbt-affirming UCC national and Conference staff persons, ONA supporters throughout our denomination, ecumenical Welcoming Church colleagues, and all who let their light shine in the service of justice and peace. Courage and joy as we follow the Spirit's lead! Denomination United Church of Christ United Methodist Church Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. David Lohman IWR and Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Click <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=69">here</a> to read Rev. Ann B. Day's biographic profile in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profile Gallery. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1096 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Ann B. Day Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Holden, Massachusetts (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Ann B. Day Day, Ann B. Massachusetts Methodist Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Theology United Church of Christ United Methodist Church Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c50c6f7c20fc0b75f945bb36979ed31e.jpg e76a6fe5aa280bb9ab164300e8a5a740 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/d40567c97aa13b9111b2a5c14114e5bf.jpg caab65084ab14b61e4b2865f93dd5893 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Dr. David P. Bahr Stole Text Rev. Dr. David P. Bahr United Church of Christ Cleveland, OH Archwood United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, took a risk over 14 years ago to call me as an out gay pastor – the first church in Ohio to do so. Since 1993, Archwood has grown into a vibrant Open and Affirming, multiracial, multicultural congregation actively engaged with its urban neighbors in need. Half the congregation is LGBT; one third of the church is African American, plus Hispanics and Asian Americans. We also have a sizable Sunday School, including senior high youth and a seminarian. It has been my holy privilege to carry the sacred responsibility of ministry with this great group of people. Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. David Lohman IWR and Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1097 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Dr. David P. Bahr Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Cleveland, Ohio (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Dr. David P. Bahr African American Asian Bahr, David P. Colorado Latinx Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) United Church of Christ https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9851e38be7cbf69050199b6d2b9645c6.jpg 8813fbceb54d4bf21bc60abdf6aacbf5 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9dad5687f77a56bcef636b055b784141.jpg 0f103ff228a03b4d316b80c02714705b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Brent Dugan Stole Text Rev. Brent Dugan Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Pittsburgh, PA Rev. Brent Dugan was the well-loved pastor of the Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, Pittsburgh, PA, for 18 years. While there he was very active in the Malawi Partnership between Pittsburgh Presbytery and the Synod of Blantyre, Malawi, Africa, and founded the Community Theater Players in Ben Avon. Before Ben Avon, Brent served two churches in West Virginia after graduating from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1972. During the memorial service for Brent, his family shared how, at age five, he had built a pulpit from cinder blocks in the backyard to practice preaching. Five days before taking his life, Brent had accepted a call to the Mendocino Presbyterian Church in California. When he disappeared, Brent expected to be disgraced on a local TV 11 o’clock news as a minister possibly violating the rules of his church. Before throwing himself on the mercy of God, the Father, with his Lord, Jesus Christ, at his side, Brent wrote letters to his friends, loved ones, and colleagues in ministry. That Brent was gay came out in these letters after his death. In his letter to the Pittsburgh Presbytery, Brent shared that he had hoped all his life to be swept off his feet by a woman, but that this never happened. So he devoted himself to his church family, to his sister’s children, and to his community. This devotion was deep and moving for everyone he met and yet his closest friends comment that there was a private place in Brent to which he never gave them access. Brent shared after his death that he had had sexual encounters with a man. He exhorted us all to live exemplary lives. To his congregation, Brent wrote, “This incident [his death] will not be easy to overcome, but overcome you must. You are the people of Jesus Christ, God’s Chosen. Please stay together.” Friends in Ministry Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole arrived in the mail. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1098 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Brent Dugan Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Carol Untch Dugan, Brent Ordination Pennsylvania Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Theology Untch, Carol https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/4d17e07e4a3e44566eea97b7862b59b5.jpg df1564df9054d9e8456d19f393cd09b9 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/fa8f740dfdfac6eab0be963afeb2914e.jpg dc40b4894d1967b88062a4ab94de92ba Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Cheryl L. Burke Stole Text REV. CHERYL L. BURKE United Church of Christ Eagle, MI My first sense of call to ordained ministry was when I was 16 years old. At 18, I fell in love with a woman and thought that ministry would never be possible. God wouldn’t let me go, however, and I was ordained at age 31 in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1988 during their “Don’t ask, don’t tell” period. After five years of “hiding,” something new began to stir in me. After a year of discernment, First Congregational UCC, Huntington, West Virginia extended a call to me, and my journey as an “out” lesbian in the United Church of Christ began. I received ordained ministerial standing in 1995. Since the, I have served as interim pastor at First Congregational UCC, Madison, Wisconsin, and as interim Association Minister for the Chicago Metropolitan Association, Illinois Conference. I was then called as the Association Minister in the Fox Valley Association, Illinois Conference. In 2005, I began serving as an Associate Conference Minister in the Michigan Conference UCC. My partner, the Rev. Dr. Julie J. Kilmer, is also ordained in the UCC. We had our union service in 1998 at the Barrington (Rhode Island) Congregational Church UCC. Denomination United Church of Christ Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1099 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Cheryl L. Burke Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Cheryl L. Burke Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Eagle, Michigan (United States) Burke, Cheryl L. Kilmer, Julie J. Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ United States Women and Religion Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Anonymous Stole Text ANONYMOUS<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Ed.D., Ed.M., M.S., M.Div., B.S. OTS Episcopal <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Toledo, OH I left my tenure track faculty position at an Ivy League university to follow my calling that first emerged in childhood. I spent three years in discernment before leaving to be sure. I was a cradle Episcopalian and had been accepted and supported by the rector and vestry of my parish for ministry. I needed to find a Bishop who would be open to me as a lesbian woman since the bishop of my diocese was not. In seminary, I met a Bishop from Maryland who was open to ordaining BGLT people, but he was recruiting minorities from other denominations at my Episcopal seminary so they would become Episcopalians. There was no interest in those of us who were cradle Episcopalians, gay and psychiatrically healthy. It has been ten years since I left university teaching, and I still am not ordained. I am trying to get known all over again by another denomination in another state, living as a student, and barely surviving economically. The pain has been tremendous. Denomination Episcopal Church Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was blessed and given to the Project at a special ecumenical worship service on November 4, 2007 in Toledo, OH. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1115 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Toledo, Ohio (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Episcopal Maryland Ohio Ordination https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6adde36ce86e84e193d4b7981f69994f.jpg b22c770d4e373bdcfdc6465bba82a5b6 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ca03e81d292699551937aeae2eef8d1a.jpg eb9b7441ab592351fb85bf2abbf5d698 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. LC/NA’S Rainbow Scarf Project Stole Text LC/NA’S RAINBOW SCARF PROJECT<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Evangelical LutheranChurch in America Churchwide Assembly 2007 Chicago, IL Lutherans Concerned/North America wanted to have a way to identify their volunteers at the upcoming ELCA Churchwide Assembly. So members of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL volunteered to make 500 rainbow scarves. Word of their efforts quickly spread across the country, and others wanted to participate. One church group told their knitters that they had to understand and accept the reasons for the project, so they held a two-hour Bible study and discussion about lgbt people in the ELCA. All the knitters chose to participate. A retired lesbian pastor said that making this scarf was the first thing she had ever done to stand up for her own sexuality. A grand-mother made a scarf for her gay grandson, and told her knitting group for the first time about him being gay. Many congregations blessed the scarves before shipping them. Some people wore the scarves in Gay Pride parades before sending them in. In the end, LC/NA received about 2,000 scarves! Despite temperatures in the 90’s, they were worn by volunteers and anyone else who wanted to show their support for changing ordination policy in the ELCA, which currently bars partnered gays and lesbians from ministry. <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /> The picture of people wearing the scarves appeared in the New York Times on Friday, August 17th, 2007. Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story I was in Chicago for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, coordinating the first exhibit of the entire collection of stoles in four years. This is the scarf that I wore. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1113 Title A name given to the resource LC/NA’S Rainbow Scarf Project Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Chicago, Illinois (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource David Lohman Chicago Clergy Activist Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Illinois Lohman, David Lutheran Ordination Reconciling Works (formerly Lutherans Concerned) Theology https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/4389ef3311e07553534f42c887c5136d.jpg 7bec38050c167e0de64886439fa24473 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/63d789c4e1b46b61f77e345c7eb37f21.jpg ab49921355edef63f1f266e06a8c26cc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Grace Lutheran Church Stole Text <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />GRACE LUTHERANCHURCH<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Evangelical LutheranChurch in America Evanston, IL In support of all people in ministry, including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was sent to us after they hosted an exhibit of the Stoles. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1112 Title A name given to the resource Grace Lutheran Church Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Evanston, Illinois (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Lutheran Church Clergy Activist Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Illinois Lutheran Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Pastor Larry A. Ort Stole Text PASTOR LARRY A. ORT Orthodox Catholic Church I am a former Lutheran Church in America/Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor who was directly confronted by my bishop of being gay. The only way I could remain on the Clergy Roster was to submit to various psychological tests and treatments to verify my call as a pastor. During this period, I could not be in a parish setting. Instead, I chose to leave the Lutherans and began an independent congregation: “The Church of the Good Shepherd in Exile” (1989-2000). Today, I am a retired Orthodox (OCCA) Catholic Priest. This stole was handmade by members of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Exile, and presented to me on the occasion of my 25th Anniversary of Ordination. Denomination Orthodox Catholic Church of America Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1111 Title A name given to the resource Pastor Larry A. Ort Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Unknown, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Pastor Larry A. Ort Church Trials Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Ort, Larry A. Orthodox Catholic Church of America United States https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6d4b276717db4aa6f01a5e03fb727274.jpg 7ae73a4ccedde63efd399c9f73518a25 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7c8ed231eda326830027d94158bdb740.jpg 7c17044c0a8142e064d3e4387b93e45a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Reverend Dámaris E. Orgeta Stole Text THE REVEREND DÁMARIS E. ORTEGA<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> United <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Church of Christ New York, NY I thank God for making me as I am. I thank God for calling me to serve the church as I am. I thank God that The Spirit called me to freedom and to be a witness of God’s diverse creation! Following my passion for ministry and service in the church that nurtured my growth and development as a young Christian, I was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico in 1995. After experiencing the bias and open discrimination of the Puerto Rican church, approving a resolution to ban openly gay and lesbian people to serve as pastors, I left without any hope in coming out and affirming my sexual orientation. Giving up this stole to be added to the collection of the Shower of Stoles Project marks the end of that hopeless period in my journey. In the United Church of Christ I have experienced God’s extravagant welcome, offering not only hope to my life, but the vision, courage and passion to my spiritual journey and ministry. Denomination United Church of Christ Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given to me during a meeting of the Bishops & Elders Council in Sarasota, FL in September, 2007. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1110 Title A name given to the resource Reverend Dámaris E. Orgeta Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant New York, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Reverend Dámaris E. Orgeta Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) New York New York City Ordination Orgeta, Dámaris E. Theology United Church of Christ https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/2c3c03989f0ea25ec69f5ac931f3665e.jpg 6786d05794c7d93298e9cb7ee40347b0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Southside Singers Stole Text SOUTHSIDE SINGERS<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) <?xml:namespace prefix = ns0 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />South Bend, IN This stole is given on behalf of the Southside Singers of Southside Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in South Bend, IN. Southside is an Open and Affirming congregation, and several Southside Singers are people who were either unwelcome or unable to share their gifts in other churches. Southside welcomes all who come, and we pray for the day when gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people will be welcomed in churches everywhere. Meanwhile, we continue to “make a joyful noise,” because we have come to know God’s wonderful, abundant love for us and all God’s children. Denomination Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was included with a shipment of stoles from an exhibit in South Bend. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1109 Title A name given to the resource Southside Singers Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant South Bend, Indiana (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Southside Singers Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Indiana Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) Theology https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/faeed71e85f5d1e3c17d93293365b4c0.jpg 4d2421b65f5d8623979f1be0de8854f8 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5d75af18645fc267a2753955a7a23c4e.jpg f75ce3b2859d3fd3d34f28548dcbe7f8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Wendy Vander Hart Stole Text REV. WENDY VANDER HART United Church of Christ Melrose, MA I was born into the church with a preacher father and director of music mother. It was into the Reformed Church of America that I grew as a Christian, a denomination that only started to ordain women when I finished at Hope College in 1985. Andover Newton Theological School was the next stop on what I thought would be a career of teaching. But I was blessed to find Church of the Covenant in Boston with the kind of extravagant welcome I never thought possible. I felt the call to ministry working with the children of Covenant and was completely out within the safe walls of that church. I was ordained in 1989. The search process for my first call to First Congregational Church in Reading, MA, however, was a “don’t ask, don’t tell” experience. So was my second call to Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, UCC. But through a painful divorce and the joy of finding love again, the people of Melrose UCC came by the busload to my wedding to my spouse, Joanne. Though our church voted for Marriage Equality in 2005, I long for the day when they will take the next step of becoming Open and Affirming! Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1108 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Wendy Vander Hart Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Melrose, Massachusetts (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Wendy Vander Hart Marriage Equality Massachusetts Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) United Church of Christ Vander Hart, Wendy Women and Religion Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference Stole Text ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS ANNUAL CONFERENCES<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> June 2006 & June 2007 United <?xml:namespace prefix = ns0 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />MethodistChurch This signature stole is dedicated to all the wonderful, gentle spirits – children of God – who because of love, a love that has been sorely misunderstood, have been forced to leave, or have chosen to leave the UnitedMethodistChurch. May the lack of their gifts and graces be noticed – for the church is neither whole nor complete without them. For myself and for my partner, we pray this stole, as it joins others, will be a lasting, living, and loving tribute to the memories of all who should have been allowed to serve proudly, without label or exclusion. If one who reads this is hidden in the secret recesses of fear and religious discrimination, may you find strength and courage to dare to be the person you are called to be. The church WILL change; it must. God is still speaking. Reconciling United Ministries of Illinois (RUMI) Luncheons IGRAC, Peoria, Illinois June 10, 2006 and June 8, 2007 Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1107 Title A name given to the resource Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Peoria, Illinois (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference Illinois Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Congregational Church of Needham Stole Text THE CONGREGATIONAL <?xml:namespace prefix = ns0 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />CHURCH OF NEEDHAM<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> United Church of Christ Needham, MA …gives this stole in celebration of the 5th anniversary of our vote to become an Open and Affirming congregation. We dedicate this stole to those in our midst and elsewhere who have lived and served openly or in silence, those who have suffered because of church or society and those who have been healed, those who have lost family or safety and those who have found them. May we be a place where all people find safety, healing, affirmation, fulfillment, and God’s grace. Open and Affirming Statement As a covenant community, we are committed to the belief that all people are created equal before God. In affirmation of the inclusive love of Christ Jesus, we welcome persons of any race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, and economic circumstance to full participation in our community life and ministry. We strive to reflect these beliefs in the language and content of our worship and in our lives together. Adopted February 2000 Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story The stole arrived in the mail. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1106 Title A name given to the resource Congregational Church of Needham Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Needham, Massachusetts (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Congregational Church of Needham Congregational Church Massachusetts Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) United Church of Christ https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/447bba3e6495b80187e945b59d662a20.jpg 3bc5675023c8cb79dca633e21e9bc5f4 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/96b70df1325bddec5e878e1873522e9d.jpg a0b0a11060fc50d6cfbcade3a9471d8b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Jen Rude Stole Text JEN RUDE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> <?xml:namespace prefix = ns0 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />EvangelicalLutheranChurch in America Tucson, AZ This stole is dedicated to Jen Rude by her parents Ron and Nancy, and sister Angela, in thankfulness for Jen’s integrity, faith in Christ, brightness, love of people, and gifts for ordained Word and Sacrament ministry. It is also given in hope and prayer that the EvangelicalLutheranChurch in America (ELCA) and its leaders will soon end their “policy of harm” toward lgbt couples, individuals, and their families, and live out God’s amazing gospel and justice in Christ for all persons. As of June 2007, Jen’s call to ordained ministry, and the many affirmations of her faith community remain held in a state of “indefinite postponement” by the ELCA. Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was sent to us by Jen's parents and sister. David Lohman IWR and Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1105 Title A name given to the resource Jen Rude Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Tucson, Arizona (United States) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ron, Nancy, & Angela Rude Ally Arizona Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Rude, Jen https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3e489f012c98174c9b19d772a804ff1f.jpg f024be51666ab984e82f62f504a35cbf https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3a2a20242529d3b6aea28bebfe68dad2.jpg 7d0e9cad62c50c994da9f3c39348ccec https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e4e278a47a848a157f17725d6f9014ff.jpg e61c439c440b6c185a08fced6c142ab2 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/1e3b09062e81ba7c952ce67fef36c3a3.jpg 3c29c358f252f06eab0c886443c48e26 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f1f334c87bb4cee6251e647e31489df4.jpg 2639bbfaaea1f3ad2411ef41dd28a051 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7a23909bf651cead1ec5a0bc7188cf54.jpg 29ed2a42299fbc7019dade297de8c464 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Harry Knox Stole Text HARRY KNOX, M.Div. United Church of Christ Washington, DC Director, Religion and Faith Program of the Human Rights Campaign Harry Knox experienced a clear call to ministry on Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12th, 1977 (now Freedom to Marry Day). In church that day, the spirit told him, “I want you to be my man in South Georgia.” When Harry asked, “Does that mean you want me to be a minister?” God answered, “for now.” Harry's ministry has been continually shaped by God's words, "for now." This calling took him from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he attempted to shut off his sexuality, to Lancaster Theological Seminary where he prepared as an openly gay man for ministry in the United Church of Christ. When Harry was denied ordination in the UCC Georgia-South Carolina Association of the Southeast Conference, God called him to do social justice work instead. At the American Cancer Society, he ministered to people dealing with life and death and modeled how an organization can better care for people in crisis. At Georgia Equality, at Equality Florida, at Freedom to Marry, and now at the Human Rights Campaign, he has pastored to a community under attack and served as a spiritual guide to those actively engaged in the struggle for equality. This stole honors his remarkable ministry outside the official church. In the face of prejudice and homophobia, Harry became pastor to people on the margins. He cares, as Jesus would, for those who have been castigated, shunned, and abandoned. His is a ministry of presence, teaching us the importance of being available when needed and representing God the best we can. Harry currently plans to pursue ordination in the United Church of Christ, Washington, D.C. To all of us, he was ordained in 1977 when he heard his first call. – His colleagues and friends at the Human Rights Campaign Denomination United Church of Christ United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story Comments from Sharon Groves at the Dedication of  Harry Knox’s stole for the Shower of Stoles Project Thank you all for coming out tonight. Assembled here Harry, are your partners in faith, in political advocacy, your wonderful colleagues from HRC, and many, many good friends who love you. We want to give a special welcome to Harry’s longtime friend Jeff Whitney. On his own dime and with virtually no advance notice from us, Jeff decided to catch a plane from Atlanta to be here with Harry. Special thanks also to Rev. John Mack and Rev. Barbara Gerlach, pastors of Harry’s Washington, DC church, First Congregational United Church of Christ and other First Congregational members for coming out tonight. I also want to thank those we’ve asked to speak. Winnie Stachleberg and Barbara Menard are the women responsible for creating HRC’s Religion and Faith program a year and a half ago and for hiring Harry. Also, my pastor and Harry’s good friend Rev. Louise Green will lead us in a short dedication service. Others wanted to be here but couldn’t make it. In particular, <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=242">Rev. Rebecca Voelkal</a> the program director for the Institute for Welcoming Resources, home to the Shower of Stoles project. Rebecca is due to deliver her new baby, Shannon Mackenzie, any day now. Though she can’t travel she still wrote a letter in honor of Harry’s, which Kyla will read later in the program. We also want to thank the artist who created the stole for Harry, Darcy Dye. Harry and I met Darcy in Iowa and liked her immediately. After talking to her at length about her work, her faith, her commitment to LGBT equality, Kyla and I knew she was the right person to create the stole. Darcy was captivated by Harry’s story as you can see from her artist statement on the back of the program. The stole she’s created is a labor of love bringing together the pivotal moments in Harry’s life as a person of faith. I’d like to say a few words about Harry’s ministry, but first let me give some context to the Shower of Stole project. In 1995, no longer able to work in the Presbyterian Church as an out lesbian, Martha G. Juillerat, the project founder, decided to forego ordination knowing that it would be revoked from her. Although she had been asked to spend the previous three years telling her story as a lesbian and Presbyterian pastor, the presbytery then told her she couldn’t be out. Rather than be defrocked she relinquished her ordination. To mark the decision and to let the presbytery know that she was not the only LGBT person of faith in the Presbyterian Church, she sent out a request for stoles that would be hung in the church where the presbytery was meeting. The stoles were intended to be evidence that homophobia and heterosexism affected many, many more people. Instead of the dozen stoles she expected, she received 80, almost all arriving overnight and most of them anonymous. With that, the Shower of Stoles project was born. The project now contains over a thousand stoles from LGBT people and allies from twenty-six different denominations. The stories these stoles tell are always poignant, and sometimes gut-wrenchingly so. They tell of children who have been denied baptism, clergy partners forced to live in separate towns for fear they’ll loose their positions, and church elders who have remained closeted for decades. They also tell positive stories of churches that have become welcoming, and of Out clergy honored by their congregations. Together they create a stunning picture of resilience, creativity, and grace in the face of tremendous obstacles. It is fitting that Harry should be included in this company. As you’ll hear more about later, Harry was denied ordination because of his sexuality, but through his deep faith and personal perseverance he refocused his energies and became a pastor to organizations that serve people on the margins, first cancer survivors and then the LGBT community. In thinking of what I wanted to say about Harry, I come back to a riveting performance I recently saw of Lorraine Hansberry’s, 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun. In the penultimate scene, the son in the family has hit rock bottom and is contemplating selling out the family to a white racist neighborhood association, to the complete disdain of his younger sister. In response: Lena Younger, the Matriarch in the family, posed the question that makes me think of Harry: She asks: “When is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy?” She continues, “when you start measuring someone measure him right. Make sure you take into account the hills and valleys he’s come through before he got to wherever he is” To my mind, Harry is a pastor for the LGBT community the way Mama Lena Younger is for her family. Harry never looses site of the hills and valleys with which we all wrestle. He knows his own too well. He knows that to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in this country--whether living openly or in the closet, whether an advocate or not—means that at some point or another there is going to be struggle often combined with degrees of shame, denial, and exclusion. He also knows that our religious communities, the place where we are at our most vulnerable and where we go for solace and refuge are often the places that hurt us the worst and are the first to shut us out. Yet, just as Harry became stronger through his struggle, his ministry to others is as much about hope and buoyancy as it is about compassion. Harry loves when it isn’t easy to love and he believes in our gifts even when we forget we have them. By so doing, he models a compassionate strength that empowers us to work harder for justice and to love those in our lives more deeply and freely. In my mind there could be no higher religious calling than this. Rebecca Voelkel’s Words About Harry For Harry Knox as his stole is donated to the Shower of Stoles Project With love and gratitude from Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, friend, colleague and Program Director of the Institute for Welcoming Resources, home of the Shower of Stoles Project I must begin by saying that my understanding of our vocation as human beings is to help participate in bringing in God’s realm here on earth. In order to do this, God has given us all gifts and graces, skills and passions so that we might be co-collaborators and co-conspirators with God in this joyful, justice work. But one of the truths about our world is that the powers of death use a variety of means to keep justice at bay and righteousness a far-too-distant reality. Among these means are the isms and phobias that would have some defending their humanity instead of using their gifts to hearken the realm of God. The Shower of Stoles Project seeks to both illustrate the sheer sinfulness of denying the power of God as manifest in many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives AND to highlight the creativity, power and beauty that are released when LGBT folk refuse to allow homophobia and heterosexism to keep them from sharing their God-given vocations. In other words, the Shower of Stoles Project calls the question on the powers of death and challenges us all to use what God has given us to make this world more like the one God intended. The fact that we are honoring Harry Knox today with a stole in this collection seems perfectly fitting to me, because Harry represents the best of Christian leadership and ministry if I have even seen it. If anyone in my life has embodied the gifts and skills, the graces and passions to help make this world more like God’s, it is Harry. Whether it is as a Southern raconteur whose self-deprecation and humble humor focus the listener’s attention on the moral of the story or as the soft-spoken man whose fearless presence in the halls of power have literally transformed minds, Harry is a minister of the Word. Whether it is as a ubiquitous presence at practically every conference on faith and LGBT issues around the country or as the man who responds almost immediately to your email, Harry takes seriously the call to embody God to those with whom he ministers. Whether it is as strategist and thinker or as behind the scenes organizer, Harry knows that faith without works is dead. The Church was wrong to deny Harry ordination the first time around. But Harry has refused to have his gifts go unused. As we receive Harry’s stole into the Shower of Stoles Project, we gift thanks to God for Harry’s co-conspirator status, for his co-collaborator heart that has meant that God’s ministry has been so powerful in his life. And, personally, as one who tries to stand in a similar place as Harry—between secular politics and Church dynamics—my heart is full that God has granted me the gift of Harry Knox in my life as colleague and as friend. Thanks be to God. <h1 style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;"></h1> <h1 style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;">Reflection for Harry Knox – Shower of Stoles</h1> Sermon by Rev. Louise Green January 11, 2007 The hour is striking so close above me, So clear and sharp, That all my senses ring with it. I feel it now: there’s a power in me To grasp and give shape to my world. I know that nothing has ever been real Without my beholding it. All becoming has needed me. My looking ripens things And they come toward me, to meet and be met. <h1 style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;">Rainer Maria Rilke’s Book of Hours</h1> It’s a great pleasure to stand before you for the purpose of honoring the calling and ministry of Harry Knox. We are fairly recent friends, but since the beginning I have resonated strongly with Harry’s great open spirit and obvious passion for his work. As I thought about what to say today, I came across this poem again…one of the great things about being a UCC minister in a Unitarian setting is that you can use poetry as sacred inspiration for the preaching moment! The urgent text moves me deeply, and also reminded me of Harry, so let me explore that for a moment with you. Rainer Maria Rilke wrote the Book of Hours, also called Love Poems to God, from strong inner stirrings over three powerful time periods. What he named as “inner dictations” were put to paper quickly and shaped to indicate his fervent belief in the experience of a reciprocal universe. By this I mean that he felt in two-way communication with God, with his calling, with destiny, as it unfolded, and knew that what he chose would create new shape to his life. This was a divine reciprocity in which Rilke’s participation was crucial and his actions significant. When we honor Harry today, I believe that we are celebrating that lively and disruptive reciprocal Spirit, the one the moves us and guides us, but also demands our own response to create our calling. In Harry’s journey, we are reminded that the principalities and powers of this earth may speak on the subject of call, but that they are often irrelevant or flat-out wrong. The Shower of Stoles is a project about callings that blossom and flower in spite of the limitations of human beings. It is a testimony to how God moves people regardless of the structures and injunction that appear to stand in the way. As we hear in Isaiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” On this evening, we only give voice to what has been so apparent for so many years, that Harry has shaped ministry from his calling. He was simply ahead of his time in the jurisdiction where he most unfortunately landed originally. But not ahead of God’s time, sometimes named the kairos moment! For if anyone reminds me a bell ringing clear and sharp, so that all your senses ring with it, it is Harry Knox. When Rilke says “there’s a power in me to grasp and give shape to my world” we see a map for what Harry has created. And isn’t this like so many transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay folks who find themselves shut out of one party but able to create their own? Rilke goes on to say, “All becoming has needed me. My looking ripens things and they come toward me, to meet and be met.” It is a joy to see what Harry saw becoming here at HRC, and how his calling was true towards a creative vision that is literally touching thousands of people around the country. I believe this becoming, this Faith and Religion program at HRC, needed his looking to ripen the thing, his clear bell of recognition that this was his next place to be. Now the expanded vision needs the ongoing vision of Sharon and Kyla and Rebecca and other staff here, plus clergy and lay people around the country who are stirred by the accomplishments of this fine work. We who are outside the organization see also that the hour is striking so close above us, clear and sharp, that our senses ring with it. We feel the power of call, as it moves through Harry and this staff and directly to each of us. It is kind of an odd thing to commission a stole that you will only wear once, but in a way this is also emblematic of how calling works. We seek to give shape to what moves within us, and we let it go, we send it out into the world and pray that our blessing blesses others along the journey. Harry, your calling began back in your adolescent yearnings to participate in the life of congregation and polity, and in your deep and urgent questions about how you would serve. It has flowed out from you in various forms over time, and the Spirit is with you, clearly naming you a beloved child of God, with whom God is well pleased. Thank you for not hiding your light under the bushel, and for giving freely, and intensely, of the abundant talent that the Spirit has given to you. I would like to close with a blessing for Harry, and for each of us as we shape our calling and bring it forward. It comes from my other favorite Rilke poem, also from the Book of Hours: …If this is arrogant, God, forgive me, But this is what I need to say. May what I do flow from me like a river, No forcing and no holding back, The way it is with children. Then in these swelling and ebbing currents, These deepening tides moving out, returning, I will sing you as no one ever has, Streaming through widening channels Into the open sea. May it be so for you, Harry, my friend and colleague in ministry, and may it be true for each of us who are so fortunate to be here with you today. Blessed be and Amen. Click <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=417">here</a> to read Rev. Harry Knox's biographic profile in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profiles Gallery. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1104 Title A name given to the resource Harry Knox Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Washington, District of Columbia (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Sharon Groves Clergy Activist Groves, Sharon Knox, Harry Marriage Equality Methodist Ordination Theology United Church of Christ United Methodist Church Voelkel, Rebecca Washington, D.C. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Malcolm Himschoot Stole Text REV. MALCOLM HIMSCHOOT United Church of Christ Denver, CO I transitioned from female gender expression to male gender expression when I was 23 years old. I was in seminary at the time, and the Shower of Stoles Project paid a visit to our campus. I walked around reading stories of people who could not follow their call into ecclesial ministry. Little did I dream that I, as a transsexual, would be able to do so! I was ordained in 2005 at the age of 27. My local church and pastor carried me all the way. The UCC had no policies against it, and in fact that year the denomination co-produced a documentary film, CALL ME MALCOLM, to spark progress for all trans people. Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Click <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=215">here</a> to read Rev. Malcolm Himschoot's biographic profile in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profile Gallery. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1103 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Malcolm Himschoot Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Denver, Colorado (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Malcolm Himschoot Clergy Activist Colorado Himschoot, Malcolm Ordination Theology Transgender activism United Church of Christ https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b12f00b8bdcf7bd92df6faefc3a956ae.jpg 9c063f260b58eec098ad6fbbcda9a900 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cc8981c807ddf3506312b893c2d63712.jpg 82d009493f7cfa78991aad8286c200cc https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7dca22d46591a48bbf8f58293834b484.jpg dcd16b8d58de5f26cfd3dde1eb9538d5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Rev. Rebecca Mary MacKenzie Voelkel Stole Text REV. REBECCA MARY MACKENZIE VOELKEL United Church of Christ Minneapolis, MN In 1972, Bill Johnson was ordained as an openly gay man in the United Church of Christ. I was three. In 1985, the United Church of Christ General Synod passed the Open and Affirming resolution. I was sixteen. In 1989, I came out as a lesbian woman in the context of my family and my church. I was welcomed and affirmed, continued receiving support for my plans for seminary and ordination, and continued to serve on committees and in worship. In 1997, I was ordained to ministry in the United Church of Christ. In many ways, this story evokes yawns for its lack of excitement and drama. But in a world such as ours, I rejoice every day for the United Church of Christ and its churches that I have called home—St. Paul’s in Cleveland, St. John’s and St. Luke’s in Dayton, The Peoples Church of Chicago, All Pilgrim’s in Seattle, and in Minneapolis, Spirit of the Lakes, and now my current home, Lyndale. Because of the faithful work of so many over the past forty years—much of it before I was born and before I knew I needed it—my story has been one of justice and celebration, love and rejoicing. The ministry that I am privileged to share has been ignited, nurtured and prospered because of this denomination. It is what every person should expect. In this fiftieth anniversary year of the United Church of Christ, I give thanks that God’s extravagant welcome is practiced in this denomination and has so richly blessed my life! Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Click <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=242">here</a> to read Rev. Rebecca Mary MacKenzie Voelkel's biographic profile in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profiles Gallery. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1102 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Rebecca Mary Mackenzie Voelkel Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Rebecca Mary Mackenzie Voelkel Clergy Activist Johnson, Bill Minneapolis Minnesota Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) Ordination Theology United Church of Christ Voelkel, Rebecca Mary Mackenzie https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3a9392fe2d10fe9e74c555a104c1418b.jpg 9788c5de0525cb0db3ec195733654ea5 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3c090002ba4d945cf6c9dfaef7598683.jpg ad1591a5976c089b7cf43f35452ddeb5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Scott Landis Stole Text SCOTT LANDIS United Church of Christ San Diego, CA This stole was presented to the Rev. Scott Landis by his former congregation, First Plymouth United Church of Christ, Englewood, CO. It was made from the same fabric used to construct Joseph’s “technicolored dreamcoat” that Scott wore when he played the role of Joseph in the congregation’s summer camp production in 1997. When he later came out as a gay man, that congregation asked him to resign. Scott was subsequently employed in secular work for two years. Scott was called by Mission Hills United Church of Christ in San Diego in 2004, where he continues to serve as its pastor. He has worn this stole both in gratitude and in pride for overcoming adversity and continuing to embrace his call to ministry. Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary. David Lohman Faith Work Coordinator National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources Home of the Shower of Stoles Project 2007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1101 Title A name given to the resource Scott Landis Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant San Diego, California (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Scott Landis California Church Trials Landis, Scott Ordination San Diego United Church of Christ