25 20 2500 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5925c14dfb210b136ebb05a38c1c2a69.jpg 9ff593ab9db66890e4f2ba94d63a3e1a https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7c81435e41ad2112af69a4346062ad9c.jpg 9ab9c2540cceca5e346859b07ed5a139 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9f134e8ef3183abe273aa51b7b6733ca.jpg 4425fe5c4d2123713ded4aa4d3e4392e https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6a8c8bfa858afcdd1feedafba128de2c.jpg a1c69c7833d52b2638c6ef67d7e508ac https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cd024a5e77fe40db312d8453192a715d.jpg 1952dec5d25fba7aa39a8467e9bfde8e https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/40fcf91b1e44b73ca341ae49a19a41a8.jpg debd3aab3bac3d764cbf7e090469af8c 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. Signature Stole (Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, Saratoga Springs NY) Stole Text Presbyterian New England Congregational Church Saratoga Springs New York (On back:) This stole is offered to show our respect and support for those members of the Presbyterian denomination denied ordination solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. We believe that the call of Christ is to all of humanity to serve creation with compassion. Created and designed by Anne Diggory and Cheryl Stanford-Smith and signed by members of the congregation. May 1998 at Saratoga Springs, NY Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ Contribution Date 1997 Contribution Story (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".) A federated United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church, PNECC is a More Light and Open & Affirming congregation working for the full inclusion of LGBT persons into the life and leadership of the PC(USA) and the UCC. About 75 per cent of the church's membership identify as Presbyterian and the rest members of the UCC. In 2001, PNECC called The Rev. Anthony Green, to be their pastor. An openly gay man, Green is a pastor in the UCC. His installation was put on hold after Presbyterians from other churches in the area filed a formal complaint with the Presbytery of Albany. A judicial commission of the presbytery ruled that the UCC portion of a federated congregation had the right to call a UCC pastor under UCC rules (which allow for the ordination of LGBT persons), clearing the way for his installation. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 429 Title A name given to the resource Signature Stole (Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, Saratoga Springs NY) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Saratoga Springs, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Presbyterian New England Congregational Church Ally Diggory, Anne Green, Anthony More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns New York Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Stanford-Smith, Cheryl United Church of Christ https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/14a0480f0aa7f78fb569998a80f467fd.jpg 26c03af43cf3f5906dbd40ce62909034 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/d0595bb497bc5597aa9d9be8ae16a62f.jpg e0add04cafc509ebe5b2782d196369b2 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. Solidarity Stole (Cynthia Ogletree) Stole Text (No narrative, signatures only) Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story (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".) This is one of the first Signature Stoles to become a part of the Shower of Stoles collection. Made by my good friend Cynthia Ogletree, this stole was signed by friends and allies at the 1996 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Cynthia Ogletree made the pattern for this stole by reproducing the construction of what is believed to be the oldest stole in the collection, one given by David Hostetter in honor of his daughter (#40). Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 314 Title A name given to the resource Solidarity Stole (Cynthia Ogletree) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Independence, Missouri (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Cynthia Ogletree Ally Covenant Network of Presbyterians Missouri More Light Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns Ogletree, Cynthia Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/770833e3e25a4a855186e2da09972dad.jpg 9202a4815e4a990e23a8d9b6a1844c10 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3dfd3d3859acbf96b1939b4ea48983f8.jpg 1a0f038d7336a7bc1a09fb3e983ad4b2 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. Students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Stole Text From Dr. Douglas E. Wingeier Emeritus Professor of Practical Theology Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston, Illinois This stole is presented in honor and appreciation of the scores of gifted and dedicated gay and lesbian students and graduates of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary during my 27 years of teaching there, who either were denied ordination and thus their gifts and graces have been lost to the church, or else are living a double life while serving "under wraps" and hence unable to be themselves fully and publicly. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Wingeier contacted me and offered to donate one of his own stoles with the hope that it could be used to honor LGBT students at GETS. Through correspondence with Dr. Winger, I encouraged him to think of some specific students that he might want to remember. In fact, he had a long list, "scores of gifted and dedicated students," that he had come to know over his nearly three decades of teaching there. It was quite evident in his e-mails that the thought of all those good and faithful students excelling in seminary, only to be rejected by the church or forced to lead "double lives, weighed heavily on him. In the end, Dr. Wineier chose this simple statement to remember all those many LGBT students, creating a "Signature Stole of memories, rather than names or signatures." In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles”. In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 517 Title A name given to the resource Students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 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 Douglas E. Wingeier Clergy Activist Illinois Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c94fe0ac10135161156504cf05d39d27.jpg 3821d7225f8b209041a00018a76b4935 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5ffc9be4462edf1254dffb8b4ebc11cb.jpg 7d42918cd580d7f72f70c9f565075795 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/df9b40712389bccb03f8a3340d69d874.jpg 4ddeb903d118061a901cdaf0f21c1af1 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. Suzanne Weber Stole Text REV. SUZANNE WEBER I am an ordained Elder who served the Board of Global Ministries and two charges in the Baltimore Washington Conference. I was called by God to preach and serve. I loved the church, and believed the church was the embodiment of God's justice. Out of my love for the church, I pushed the boundaries concerning my sexuality. I was fully aware my relationship with the church was jeopardized by my openness. Was I was not aware of was the affect the church's homophobia would have on my health. After seven years of never being fully included, straddling the edge of a double life as pastor and lesbian, and ultimately burning out, I severed my relationship with the church. Or, I should say, the church left me in the midst of the greatest personal brokenness I have ever endured. I am finally recovering from the years of depression this conflict created in my life. I still grieve the loss of my connection with my church family and community, but I believe this was the only way I could heal. On the other side of this struggle, I am at peace, and pray for the church's peace. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story The toll on LGBT people of faith exacted by the church's homophobia is enormous. Over the years we received dozens of stole stories, letters and e-mails from LGBT folk (especially clergy) who struggled with self-doubt, depression, stress-induced illnesses and exhaustion after years of being forced to live carefully choreographed double lives in the closet, or years of doing battle with the church after coming out. Some have recoiled at the term "spiritual violence," thinking it too harsh. I would say that it barely begins to describe the experience of having one's life torn apart by the church's oppression. This is one of thirteen stoles given to us by Dumbarton UMC in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. Dumbarton is a Reconciling congregation, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 660 Title A name given to the resource Suzanne Weber 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 Dumbarton United Methodist Church Clergy Activist Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church Washington, D.C. Weber, Suzanne 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. Thomas Carson Ziegert Stole Text Thomas Carson Ziegert Ordained as Elder PC(USA) and consecrated as UMC student pastor -- 1st of 2 "ordinations" -- will probably never achieve the 2nd United University Church Presbyterian (USA) and United Methodist Church Los Angeles, California A gift from The Rev. Susan Craig and The Rev. Bear Ride Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2001 Contribution Story Located on the campus of the University of Southern California, United University Church in L.A. has been a safe haven for many LGBT people of faith, including Tom Ziegert. Pastored by Rev. Susan Craig, a bisexual woman, the church has been diligent in finding ways to utilize and honor the gifted LGBT leaders in their midst. Susan and her partner, Rev. Bear Ride, donated six stoles on behalf of LGBT elders and student pastors that serve United University Church. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 877 Title A name given to the resource Thomas Carson Ziegert Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Los Angeles, California (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Susan Craig and Rev. Bear Ride Bisexual activism California Craig, Susan Los Angeles Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Ride, Bear United Methodist Church Ziegert, Thomas Carson https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ff1bf8ab109bcde1d9ea8470cf3cc6f4.jpg 7821d770bc75a8fc4b16a25142a886a8 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6dbfe22a00f87a9e19f3a4354de93c23.jpg 23896a30bcfc10e8b03c85ef00e9a3e3 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. David Leachman Stole Text DAVID LEACHMAN FORMER ELDER AND CAMPUS MINISTER IN THE IOWA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH David surrendered his orders in 1989 after nine years of membership in the church. He resigned in protest of the growing inability of the denomination to deal with, and now official United Methodist policy against, homosexuals in the church. He now lives in Jersey City, NJ Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 1999 Contribution Story This was one of the first United Methodist stoles we received. Along with about two dozen other UM stoles, it was included the first time we brought a display of the stoles to a Convocation of the Reconciling Ministries Network, meeting in Denton TX in 1999. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 340 Title A name given to the resource David Leachman Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Jersey City, New Jersey (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource David Leachman Leachman, David New Jersey Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/fe4c81d0c9ce9fe9ae37ddbe90c5658f.jpg b7c110e6d4e33458bca47befb0568340 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/eba607089d73fbf56ea60d437435f993.jpg 1a59cb993f4cb51ff499a976b2bcbfe4 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. Rebecca Richards Stole Text REBECCA RICHARDS Born in 1948 and baptized at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arlington, VA. Confirmed at Lincolnia UMC in Alexandria, VA. Raised in a loving Christian home, we never missed a Sunday, Church suppers, picnics and activities like VBC and MYF were a must. As a young adult, I joined as a Charter Member of Christ UMC in Columbia, MD. After years of church leadership, including six as a youth group counselor, I knew I must follow the call into full-time ministry. In 1989 I was ordained a Deacon. My first full-time appointment brought me great joy - a two-point, "corn field" charge filled with people who seemed to love me as much as I loved them. But that blessing became an obstacle. My love for these people made it impossible for me to tell the lies necessary to hide my identity and the reality of the life-giving relationship I had with my partner. I made the decision to surrender my credentials, and stood before the Executive Session of AC to say why I must leave. I still love the church of my roots and am a member of St. John's UMC, Baltimore, MD. This church family, affiliated with the Reconciling Congregations Program, has blessed my union with Kathy, tolerated my occasional preaching, and given me hope when I saw none. Thanks be to a gracious God! Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Of all the denominational subsets of stoles in the collection, United Methodists by far represent the largest percentage of LGBT clergy who were forced out of the ministry, or who left voluntarily because they could no longer tolerate serving in silence. Rebecca's stole also reflects the hypocrisy of a denomination concerned with a significant shortage of rural pastors, while at the same time denying ordination and calls to committed rural pastors simply because of their sexual orientation. Rebecca is a faithful servant of God and committed United Methodist to the very core of her being. The grief and loss she experienced in leaving the ministry is painfully obvious in this brief story. Fortunately, she has found a loving home at St. John's in Baltimore, and her grief has in now way diminished her faith in God's boundless love. This is one of thirteen stoles given to us by Dumbarton UMC in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. Dumbarton is a Reconciling congregation, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles." In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 651 Title A name given to the resource Rebecca Richards 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 Dumbarton United Methodist Church Clergy Activist Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Richards, Rebecca United Methodist Church Washington, D.C. Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/90603c8b046859078aadb121c0379174.jpg 5c274a1e0e64edcc38401f681db78aff https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/63f07dc883190c941a72757087762c76.jpg 9c1c19cf759949bca3e3058bb03946a2 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. Signature Stole (St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Vacaville CA) Stole Text St. Paul's United Methodist Church Vacaville, CA St. Paul's United Methodist Church is a Reconciling Congregation and a Peace With Justice congregation. We are straights, gays, lesbians, bisexuals; singles, lifetime partners, husbands, wives, widows, youth and children. We minister in support of God's justice and inclusive love. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2001 Contribution Story St. Paul's UMC is a Reconciling Congregation, working for the full inclusion of LGBT persons into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. (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".) Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 827 Title A name given to the resource Signature Stole (St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Vacaville CA) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Vacaville, California (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource St. Paul's United Methodist Church Ally California Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6585ccf3d4c0e6e5cb1faa6ac6978d32.jpg ddc854ba47a8ae2efcead3c5eb73e3b3 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/d7c56158adac38f7bd6470f60afa9acd.jpg 91640632e2fcda3eb3087d8d0088e80d 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. Daniel Robert Campbell Stole Text DANIEL ROBERT CAMPBELL, OSL UNITED METHODIST An Anglo, I grew up in an inner-city Latino congregation in Los Angeles. Most of my spiritual gifters were Hispanic. I served, beginning in 1974, in central-city, bilingual appointments for Latino, Anglo and Filipino folk. Several years were in Phoenix as executive for a nation/regional community center in the heart of the original city barrio. In the mid-1980's I began to confront my sexuality. (Denial didn't work!) Since moving to Kansas City, I have fought for rights issues, too often serving as a pastor at AIDS funerals, working with the area Ryan White council; and been a speaker for seminars and services as an openly gay man. And, as of October 2000, I am a long-term, 12-year AIDS survivor. Thanks be to God! Prayers and promises of faith within the Faith. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Daniel donated this stole to the collection at an ecumenical community display held in Kansas City in 2000. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 732 Title A name given to the resource Daniel Robert Campbell Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Kansas City, Missouri (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Daniel Robert Campbell AIDS Campbell, Daniel Robert Clergy Activist Latinx Methodist Missouri United Methodist Church https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3b8ad5cfee076de8e83ec7cf2a0cd6c9.jpg 49c4100c27dfa89b85a62ae41c333569 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/fccd71ad2952e14ec45437b69fd4e20d.jpg 1a809c214d0dcdf89ac5dc57e06290ea 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. Judith J. (Westendorf) WestLee Stole Text Judith J. (Westendorf) WestLee Elder, United Methodist Church Minnesota Annual Conference I was raised in a denomination that taught me I had an angry, judging God who was to be feared. I was in my 30's before I heard I had a God who loved me "Warts and all." After a series of events I turned my life over to God. I heard God's call to ministry. I served 10 years in small parishes. All I ever wanted to do was to share in God's love and walk with God's people. After coming to my first appointment, I finally faced my sexual identity. I was 41 years old. I struggled to justify my new sexual identity with my understanding of scripture and Christian tradition. I came out to my bishop and cabinet. I took a personal vow of celibacy. Then I met the most remarkable woman! We fell in love. We had a union service. I am now on Leave of Absence. I constantly miss ministry and serving God through serving God's people. My ministry today is as a volunteer in Affirmation -- United Methodists for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Concerns and in the Reconciling Congregation movement. I make my living today selling water heaters for Sears. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Two lines in this rather compact stole story have caught the attention of many people. The first line always brings a chuckle: "I took a personal vow of celibacy. Then I met the most remarkable woman!" (How many of us could say the very same thing?) The second line stops people cold: "I make my living today selling water heaters for Sears." This is the abrupt ending to her story. In a denomination with a pastor shortage, one that is particularly acute among small and rural parishes, here is a gifted pastor who loved small church ministry -- and who is now working as a retail clerk, simply because of her sexual orientation. Such a loss to the denomination, and to these small churches she served. Judy and her partner, Janet, have been volunteers with Affirmation and the Reconciling Ministries Network for many years. They continue to be an active leaders in a Reconciling Congregation in Minneapolis. They are members of Wesley United Methodist Church in Minneapolis (see stole #518) This stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles”. In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 519 Title A name given to the resource Judith J. (Westendorf) WestLee 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 Judith J. (Westendorf) WestLee Clergy Activist Methodist Minneapolis Minnesota Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church WestLee, Judith J. (Westendorf) Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/abbfe725226f36e24d5f358984fd77e0.jpg 1c4b9bddca09c00bc0168cc8690c9f19 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b3cb28d6e89f9f1009289c64cef901dc.jpg 930d4cdfdfd150e06d2c2e2aef5c7638 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/85ff414aaaf7ab9721e5d93a97e8091b.jpg 165596cdf5ee5b7252f46c184cf15e7d 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 ("While I do believe that we are an 'Easter people,'... it feels as though the United Methodist Church is still living in LENT...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS While I do believe that we are an "Easter people," I purchased this purple Lenten stole because it feels as though the United Methodist Church is still living in LENT: "pre-resurrection." Until all of us who love our God and who faithfully live out our callings as United Methodists are willing and able in love to open the tombs of those of us who are GLBT (people of color, differently-abled, low-income... and ALL others who are not free to be fully ourselves in the Church) Jesus remains in the tomb as well. May we soon be able to say TRULY as a whole Church, "CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!" From a lesbian clergywoman, ordained for 22 years and serving in the Pacific Northwest. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This anonymous stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 717 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("While I do believe that we are an 'Easter people,'... it feels as though the United Methodist Church is still living in LENT...") 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 Anonymous Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c12576db2f6de4ccd69321a4e3ce5150.jpg 93886d2ad8746f87ed143e41666e44c3 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/8072fe2fc60ba2f0b296a2888c67c146.jpg 3850c8dab2538cb3c1db4a3d752b8095 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ed379baf97c07dd2f38a25be663f33bf.jpg 8f042bdcc8d18e5c7155fc6ad5b4e16f https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/d68a36812917fc789de20ac9f3495b63.jpg 10875786a7a96d6df1c0a0a0850c1827 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. Melany Burrill Stole Text 16 years church leadership in local church and beyond MELANY BURRILL United Methodist Christian Educator Virginia Conference This stole represents my 16 years of full-time educational ministry in one UM congregation in Northern Virginia (metropolitan Washington,D.C.) As a seminary-trained lay person and certified Director of Christian Education, I recruited and trained teachers and youth leaders, resourced the Sunday school and did tons of youth ministry -- including leadership at district and conference levels and representing Virginia at jurisdictional and national youth ministry events. I directed children's and youth handbell choirs along with the scores of tasks needed to sustain a vibrant educational ministry in an 1100 member suburban congregation. At the end of my 16th year, while on a 3-month sabbatical, I received a letter thanking me for my service, inviting my resignation, and telling me I needn't return to my position following my sabbatical. The stated reason for this being "the church sees the need to go another direction with its educational ministries." It soon unfolded that the underlying reason for this was the "discovery" of my participation in the Reconciling Congregation movement-- which was interpreted by the senior minister as being "against the Discipline of the UMC." Although my sexual orientation was not openly at issue, because I have been very private about my personal life, it was certainly an unspoken concern. The UMC's policies and practices around issues of homosexuality contributed to an atmosphere of fear and secrecy where my long and successful ministry of people of many ages could be summarily dismissed with a letter. The most painful part to me was not the differences of opinion that were eventually expressed, but the ways in which both congregation members and myself were treated -- assumptions made, reasons not given, direct conversations avoided. The "rest of the story" is -- after several congregational meetings to air issues and a face-to-face meeting with the personnel committee -- I resigned, was given a touching farewell party, and a severance package. I am now happily a member of Dumbarton United Methodist Church, a reconciling congregation in Washington, D.C. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story The circumstances surrounding Melany Burrill's forced resignation are outrageous. Unfortunately, Melany is one of many church professionals represented in the Shower of Stoles collection that have strikingly similar stories. When the church forces LGBT people to serve in silence, these church professionals are not the only ones driven underground. Colleagues and congregants become a part of this conspiracy of silence. Careers are ended on the basis of suspicion, rumor and innuendo. Lifetimes of service are dismissed with a letter. Congregations are split by the inability of leadership to face their own homophobia, their fear of confrontation and their reticence to debate tough issues openly and fairly. Grief lingers as talented, beloved staff are forced to leave, and the painful issues are driven back into the closet. Too often, the one forced out is remembered as "the problem," rather than the church's own bigotry and dysfunction. These are the stories that underscore the great importance of Reconciling Congregations like Dumbarton, where people can heal and where their gifts for service are celebrated. Melany's stole is one of thirteen stoles donated by LGBT members at Dumbarton in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 650 Title A name given to the resource Melany Burrill 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 Dumbarton United Methodist Church Burrill, Melany Church Trials Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church Washington, D.C. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/0704bf14c63683dbdf1f2aa65839e727.jpg eceb08236fcd7fdfb44b971b65bec376 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f9fcec21004c7844dce1895ec560ee59.jpg 840fa152f4029d99f6bf1bc0eaab649e 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. My Lesbian Daughter and Gay Son (Donated by Paul Beeman and the Pacific Northwest Chapter, MFSA) Stole Text HONORING MY LESBIAN DAUGHTER AND GAY SON REV. PAUL BEEMAN PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NATIONAL PFLAG PRESIDENT Since I am a United Methodist minister, my four children including a lesbian daughter and gay son grew up in the church. While Betty and I have totally supported them and loved them unconditionally, the church has abandoned them, condemned their lives, and left them spiritually homeless. They are among the Exodus of perhaps 600,000 gay and lesbian United Methodists who have silently slipped away. My son considered becoming a minister and later considered suicide, after he discovered his commitment to Christ was unacceptable for the church's service. After 42 years as a minister, I can no longer wear this stole as a symbol of my profession in the church I have served, never again until people like my son and daughter are recognized by the church as children of God and welcomed for their spiritual worth. Today I serve as national president of PFLAG -- Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays -- an organization of 440 local chapters and nearly a hundred-thousand people united in the commitments of unconditional love. In a demonstration at the United Methodist General Conference in May, 2000, this stole was worn by Amory Peck, whom I had united with her life partner, Linda Lambert, in a Holy Union -- for them an act of Christian commitment, for me an act of pastoral ministry, yet in defiance of the General Conference and Judicial Council's ban of such ceremonies. I will be happy to be charged and tried for faithfulness to my calling. I will be thrilled when my church welcomes all its children. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Paul Beeman's anger and grief are palpable in this brief narrative. A man of immense faith and grace, he has chosen to channel all this pain into a commitment to rid the church and society of their homophobia and discriminatory practices. As National PLFAG President, and as an active volunteer with the Reconciling Ministries Network and Parents' Reconciling Network. This is one of four stoles (#675-677) given to us by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). MFSA was founded in 1907 by several Methodist Episcopal clergy (including Frank Mason North, author of "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life") to direct church attention to the enormous human suffering among the working class. Immediately the Federation became Methodism's unofficial rallying point for the Social Gospel and achieved in 1908 the adoption of the first denominational social creed. Today, the Federation unites activist United Methodists to promote action on the liberation issues confronting the church and society and to witness to the transformation of the social order that is intrinsic to the church's entire life, including its evangelism, preaching, counseling, and spirituality. As an independent organization, MFSA works primarily through the ministries of the United Methodist Church, supporting and augmenting peace and justice ministries at the local, conference, and national levels, calling the church to expand its understanding of the radical call of the Gospel to be the inclusive, justice-seeking, risk-taking Body of Christ.  These stoles were given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the UnitedMethodistChurch in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 677 Title A name given to the resource My Lesbian Daughter and Gay Son (Donated by Paul Beeman and the Pacific Northwest Chapter, MFSA) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Des Moines, Washington (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Paul Beeman, and the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action Ally Beeman, Paul Clergy Activist Marriage Equality Methodist Ordination Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church Washington https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b55bd32ae291534090e4f445deb41780.jpg 724b7ae5a7ab8550dbbf5a8477e04670 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6e28ccd4f856139408dfffc14269bbe4.jpg 74a4316d132f7205a688880d55f7f8e2 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/34432e58042a42a5ffc10ed968a814d7.jpg 21e83bfab919306f1127366ce7e9c1f1 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. Tanya Denley Stole Text TANYA DENLEY Seminarian, McCormick Theological Seminary Candidate for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, PC(USA) I was born and bred Presbyterian. I never questioned the church until I came out as a lesbian. When I did that, my best friend asked what the church thought about homosexuality. My answer was the church was okay with it, as long as you didn't want to be a pastor. When I received my call to ministry the next year, I laughed at God's sense of humor. This rainbow stole was given to me in my first year at seminary to wear at my ordination. I donate it with the hope that I may still wear it at my ordination, whenever that will be. As I prepare for my graduation from seminary, I face the uncertainty of the church. The church which has been my home all these years does not want me. I must find a way now to do ministry and stay connected to the church, which has rejected God's call for me. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 2001 Contribution Story Tanya Denley was active in the leadership of Acts 10:15, the LGBT student organization that hosted a large display of the stoles at McCormick Seminary in 2001. Acts 10:15 is also a Student Chapter of More Light Presbyterians. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 700 Title A name given to the resource Tanya Denley 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 Tanya Denley Chicago Denley, Tanya Illinois Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/338241f6bafd1e0cedbed7af89b64fa9.jpg 5561bd7ba12b24d66b17a03ded4d51da https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/eb242c079603da22ce24d3dc1307f970.jpg 520d0dae3a9d574a654bb05d84de3af8 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b3400dfb8b8851a90c3a037f39202130.jpg d1fa5a7a50ea05b8c65748d5fba778c9 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. Unknown Member of Downtown United Presbyterian Church Stole Text From a member of of Downtown United Presbyterian Church Rochester, New York Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story This is one of about two dozen stoles donated by members of DUPC in early 1996. Most of the stoles arrived without names or narratives. However, we have been told that most of the donors are "out" LGBT persons, unnamed but not necessarily anonymous. DUPC was at the center of a pivotal moment in the history of the Welcoming movement in the Presbyterian Church. In 1978 the General Assembly acted to bar the ordination of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals." However, an exception was added to the action which exempted those ordained before 1978 from future judicial action. This clause allowed DUPC in 1991 to call the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr to become a co-pastor of the church; Janie had been ordained prior to 1978. However, the church broke its trust and in 1991 the denomination's highest judicial body barred Janie from being installed. In response, DUPC called Janie to be an "Evangelist," and formed That All May Freely Serve to allow Janie to preach, educate and challenge church structures at DUPC and throughout the country. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 187 Title A name given to the resource Unknown Member of Downtown United 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 Rochester, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Unknown Member of Downtown United Presbyterian Church New York Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Spahr, Jane Adams That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) Theology https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7e7462ac7f9cb7587b80c025cdae4fdc.jpg db6d2150fed3cdef97f3782f89e28a1a https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/422b58e40a171f79df6427af755eb7e8.jpg 3415009c57f84cf79e00922f1ea0d9c4 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. Member, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester NY Stole Text From a member of Downtown United Presbyterian Church Rochester, New York Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story This is one of about two dozen stoles donated by members of DUPC in early 1996. Most of the stoles arrived without names or narratives. However, we have been told that most of the donors are "out" LGBT persons, unnamed but not necessarily anonymous. DUPC was at the center of a pivotal moment in the history of the Welcoming movement in the Presbyterian Church. In 1978 the General Assembly acted to bar the ordination of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals." However, an exception was added to the action which exempted those ordained before 1978 from future judicial action. This clause allowed DUPC in 1991 to call the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr to become a co-pastor of the church; Janie had been ordained prior to 1978. However, the church broke its trust and in 1991 the denomination's highest judicial body barred Janie from being installed. In response, DUPC called Janie to be an "Evangelist," and formed That All May Freely Serve to allow Janie to preach, educate and challenge church structures at DUPC and throughout the country. (Note: The decorations on this stole were created with construction paper. The netting was added later to protect this delicate material from damage.) Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 199 Title A name given to the resource Member, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester NY Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Rochester, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Member of Downtown United Presbyterian Church Clergy Activist New York Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Spahr, Jane Adams That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9f3788af9fc9ba339afa42091338f6fa.jpg 34cb83b25a1d937a5d5fdccc04a2bad7 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/02d138bd70ba8cfb8012f086e95d5c98.jpg 703ead6c33d46b92a9fecb641ce9b5a3 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. Nancy Lauder Brown Stole Text NANCY LAUDER BROWN Ordained Elder Downtown United Presbyterian Church Rochester, NY Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story This is one of about two dozen stoles donated by members of DUPC in early 1996. DUPC was at the center of a pivotal moment in the history of the Welcoming movement in the Presbyterian Church. In 1978 the General Assembly acted to bar the ordination of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals." However, an exception was added to the action which exempted those ordained before 1978 from future judicial action. This clause allowed DUPC in 1991 to call the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr to become a co-pastor of the church; Janie had been ordained prior to 1978. However, the church broke its trust and in 1991 the denomination's highest judicial body barred Janie from being installed. In response, DUPC called Janie to be an "Evangelist," an formed That All May Freely Serve to allow Janie to preach, educate and challenge church structures at DUPC and throughout the country. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 188 Title A name given to the resource Nancy Lauder Brown Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Rochester, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Nancy Lauder Brown Brown, Nancy Lauder Clergy Activist New York Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Spahr, Janie Adams That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) Theology Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ba336d13c48bb8ac1fdfa264338c6585.jpg 61fed2f8924fa13cb2085a1f276fc77f 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. Signature Stole (North Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur GA) Stole Text Supporters from NORTH DECATUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) Decatur, Georgia Presbytery of Greater Atlanta Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1997 Contribution Story (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".) In 1997, North Decatur Church donated about a dozen stoles to the collection. A few honored members of the church, a few more were Signature Stoles from the congregation, including this one. The final few stoles were made to honor LGBT persons known to the church (although not necessarily members there) who serve the Presbyterian Church in silence. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 354 Title A name given to the resource Signature Stole (North Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur GA) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Decatur, Georgia (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource North Decatur Presbyterian Church Ally Georgia More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/36416839b515daa9f8b668dbe453bac3.jpg 092df9de7dfca7326ecc6f20ca6ab432 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/76b98f138ad920dc7bb6e717a3dfaeb7.jpg 467a2ab260ff49a4af8f525bb9d6cda4 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. Beryl Dean Hokel Stole Text BERYL DEAN HOKEL Minister This is a stole given to me by the church I had previously served as a lay person, for my ordination as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. I powerfully and effectively served the United Methodist Church for twenty-six years. Eighteen of those years I understood myself to be a gay man. Fifteen of those years I hid my spouse. On September 15, 2002, I was installed as a United Church of Christ minister. It is with great joy that I serve a denomination that accepts me for who I am. Denomination United Methodist Church United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2002 Contribution Story Beryl Dean Hokel, like so many others, has taken a wealth of talent and a lifetime of experience away from a denomination that was more concerned with his sexual orientation than his gifts for ministry, and found a welcome embrace elsewhere. Once again, it is the United Methodist Church's loss and the United Church of Christ's gain. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 912 Title A name given to the resource Beryl Dean Hokel Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Schaumburg, Illinois (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Beryl Dean Hokel Clergy Activist Hokel, Beryl Dean Illinois Methodist Theology United Church of Christ United Methodist Church Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5d0cb81d9c2d5ad304dc6ccb97e58875.jpg 5301e0580fececc32ac02ab48dc3a35f https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cd2667f1c297670eb9693ed26311dad7.jpg 51756613a7ffcd4ea915e200a7d835f4 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/75f6a8bad2ea9710451c848dc4108771.jpg 009f2fd73808cb1838f752c5e326e1f2 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 ("I purchased this stole in Jerusalem from a woman who sews such things to raise money... I prayed that my vocation would be a ministry such as hers...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS I purchased this stole in Jerusalem from a woman who sews such things to raise money for Palestinian refugees. When I was ordained, I prayed that my vocation would be a ministry such as hers. Since my ordination, I have been found to be an effective, learning, spiritual leader by my cabinet, my colleagues, and my congregations. But the UMC shames me because of my sexual orientation. I am effective only so far as I remain silent about my sexuality. I die a little more with each General Conference pronouncement that some of the most joy-filled parts of my life are incompatible with Christian teaching. Someday the church will have killed too much of me. Someday I will have nothing left to offer of myself to my congregations. All the while, I'm the one who feels shame for my church. It is the bigotry of the UMC that is incompatible with Christian teaching. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. It was sent to us through a third party; nothing else is known about the donor. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 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 645 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I purchased this stole in Jerusalem from a woman who sews such things to raise money... I prayed that my vocation would be a ministry such as hers...") 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 Anonymous Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States