80 20 2484 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. Donna M. Webb Stole Text DONNA M. WEBB DIACONAL MINISTER CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR 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. Sheboygan UMC is a Reconciling congregation, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons into the full 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 620 Title A name given to the resource Donna M. Webb Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Sheboygan, Wisconsin (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Wesley United Methodist Church Clergy Activist Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church Webb, Donna M. Wisconsin 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. Elizabeth Gillis Stole Text ELIZABETH GILLIS FROM JOANNE AND PHIL GILLIS This is one of her Dad's stoles she had hope to one day wear. (Elizabeth's dad is a retired United Methodist pastor.) Her mom made the stole. Elizabeth went two years to Union Seminary, New York City, before leaving for another profession. Lovingly presented by Elizabeth and her parents, Joanne and Phil Gillis. 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 is one of at least a dozen stoles representing United Methodists who had hoped to follow a clergy parent into the ministry but chose not to, or were prevented from doing so, because of their sexual orientation. 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 613 Title A name given to the resource Elizabeth Gillis 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 Joanne and Phil Gillis Clergy Activist Gillis, Elizabeth Gillis, Joanne Gillis, Phil Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States 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 (Donated by Cynthia Griffith Koski in honor of a member of Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference) Stole Text HONORING A MEMBER OF PENINSULA-DELEWARE ANNUAL CONFERENCE Retiring at this Annual Conference living now in Maryland (still within conference bounds). Sending this stole in honor of a gifted and called parishioner's son, who I encouraged in ordained ministry -- only to learn that he is openly (now) gay. A great loss for our denomination. We must be about change. God is weeping. Rev. Cynthia Griffith Koski 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. The last line in this brief narrative speaks to most of the stories in the Shower of Stoles collection: God is weeping. 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 612 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous (Donated by Cynthia Griffith Koski in honor of a member of Peninsula-Delaware 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 Unknown, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Cynthia Griffith Koski Clergy Activist Koski, Cynthia Griffith Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States 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 ("This stole comes from a respected annual conference member, large church pastor, 2000 United Methodist Conference delegation member...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS United Methodist Ordained Elder This stole comes from a respected annual conference member, large church pastor, 2000 United Methodist Conference delegation member. The depth of my sense of call has caused me to have to hide much of my true self, give up a relationship of true love, and go into places which often seem like exile. I pray for the day my church reflects the gracious love of the God who sustains me in the journey. It must and will come. 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. It is representative of dozens of United Methodists who have been forced to choose between following their call and hiding their true selves, or coming out and abandoning their call -- a choice no one should ever have to make. 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 610 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("This stole comes from a respected annual conference member, large church pastor, 2000 United Methodist Conference delegation member...") 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 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 Martin Stole Text AIDS STOLE From Rev. Thomas Martin Pacific Northwest Conference I became involved in the Conference Task Force on AIDS Ministries early in its inception in the early 1990's. A significant program of the Task Force has been "Strength for the Journey" retreats for persons living with full-blown AIDS. While not all, many of the men and women not only struggled with the disease but also the Church's rejection of their homosexuality. One of the first activities at the retreat is a white sweatshirt with a current logo which the participants paint with colorfast paints. At my first retreat I invited the participants to sign my sweatshirt and this became part of the tradition. I call the sweatshirts my personal AIDS quilt for over 90 of the signers have died. The retreats always close with a prayer for healing, footwashing, and communion. One year I had stoles with the logo made of linen for use in the final service. Several of the participants signed my stole and since then I have worn it many times during services of communions as a reminder of the folks who became an important part of my spiritual journey. As a Christian I do not believe that physical death is the ultimate tragedy. It is spiritual death. Many in the church have practiced spiritual genocide on the Gay and Lesbian community. The lack of faith in the movement of the Holy Spirit in the heart of each believer (good Wesleyan style) has led these folk to assume the role of defenders of God and, indeed in many cases, have become God themselves (so they act). There is no humility in words or actions that prevent the Holy Spirit from working out her will in the hearts of the earnest seekers. Unfortunately the rhetoric (and rules formed out of opinions -- read Wesley's sermon "The Catholic Spirit") has less to do with earnestly seeking after God's will than it does with human fear and distrust. 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. 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 607 Title A name given to the resource Thomas Martin 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 Rev. Thomas Martin AIDS Clergy Activist Martin, Thomas Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States 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. Brother of Rev. Tom Tucker Stole Text Celebrating 30 years of ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, this stole is presented by Rev. R. Tom Tucker, Pacific Northwest Conference, in honor of my brother who, as a gay and gifted man, left the church to use his talents in another denomination which for the same 30 years has welcomed him and has benefited from his voice and music. 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. 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 599 Title A name given to the resource Brother of Rev. Tom Tucker 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 Rev. Tom Tucker Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church United States 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. Jessica Lee Stole Text Called by God, denied by the United Methodist Church. I love the United Methodist church; it is the one organized religion that I have found that believes the way my heart believes. Of course, with the exception that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church." I believe that God created all human beings and He did not make one to be better than the other. I believe God calls who He wants to be ordained and should not be denied by man or woman to serve. I also pray that someday, justice will be served and all are welcomed to serve and to be ordained. There is a lot of conflict within my soul, knowing that I am called by God and denied by the church to fulfill that calling. Jessica Lee Member of Simpson UMC Cleveland, Ohio 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. 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 595 Title A name given to the resource Jessica Lee 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 Mary Ann Carlson and Jessica Lee Clergy Activist Lee, Jessica Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology 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. David D. Golby Stole Text From before second grade, I remember being called to pastoral ministry. My mother felt it her duty to God to expose my situation. At my father's funeral, I said, "I don't care anymore who knows, except the Bishop, because it could risk my job." Within three days the District Superintendent was walking up my driveway. Anger and Spite as acts of devotion? To this day, I feel the call -- revitalize downtown congregations. But now more a ball and chain. If nothing else, I have to let go so I can move on. But where? What do you do when all your gifts and all your training, and all your life were meant for the pastoral ministry of word, sacrament, and order? I've held on long enough. Grateful for the time I was allowed, I return this token of ministry to the One who called me in the first place. Gloria in Excelsis Deo David D. Golby Medina, Ohio March 2000 East Ohio Conference The United Methodist Church 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. 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 594 Title A name given to the resource David D. Golby Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Medina, Ohio (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Mary Ann Carlson and David D. Golby Clergy Activist Golby, David D. Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology 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. John E. Bevan Stole Text JOHN E. BEVAN John Bevan was born in 1931 in Alpine, California, a tiny hamlet over a mile high in the San Bernardino Mountains, in Los Angeles County. The family, which consisted of his mother, father, an older brother and younger sister, eventually settled in Los Angeles. John graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles in 1949 and head off across town to UCLA for college -- the first of his family to attend college. John did not grow up in a particularly religious family. They did not attend church regularly, although occasionally the family went on either Palm Sunday or Easter. In high school, however, John fell in with a group centered at the Robertson Community Methodist Church and soon became a ringleader there. At UCLA he kept his Methodist connection, and became active in the Wesley Foundation, which became his central extracurricular activity during college. During his senior year at college he applied to and was accepted at the University of Southern California Seminary, which later became Claremont School of Theology. After Seminary, John worked for several years at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and later at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey as the University Registrar. After Drew, John served a brief period of pastoral ministry in Southern California. John later worked as assistant registrar at Georgetown University and then as registrar at American University, both in Washington, D.C. In 1973 he took the post of director of recruitment and admissions at Wesley Seminary. John was consecrated as a Christian Education Director and later became a Diaconal minister with certification in Christian Education. For eight years he served as chairperson of the Baltimore Annual Conference Board of Diaconal Ministry. He also served as Wesley Seminary's liaison with the Division of Diaconal Ministry in Nashville. The church was central in John's life and he attended Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. as his local parish. John served on a variety of boards and committees at Foundry from education work to the board of trustees. John was also a member of the Cathedral Choral Society and sang with the choir of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. John was a delegate to the 1984 and 1988 Jurisdictional and General Conferences of the United Methodist Church. In 1988 he was appointed by the Council of Bishops to the Agenda Committee and became chairperson of that committee. John served the United Methodist Church honorably, involving himself in the highest levels of governance in the denomination and electing bishops of the church. John was an active member of Mid-Atlantic Affirmation, United Methodists for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns. He was instrumental in initiating the Foundry/Affirmation Neighborhood Bible Study Group, which served the spiritual needs of Gay and Lesbian United Methodists in the Washington, D.C. area for more than 10 years. John died of AIDS related complications in 1991. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Established in 1815, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC has been the home to Presidents, members of Congress, and many other public servants. In 1995, Foundry became one of the largest Reconciling congregations in the country, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. This is one of six stoles (#587-591, 846) donated by Foundry 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 590 Title A name given to the resource John E. Bevan 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 Foundry United Methodist Church AIDS Bevan, John E. Clergy Activist Methodist Theology United Methodist Church 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. Anonymous (Donated by Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington D.C.) Stole Text ANONYMOUS FOUNDRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WASHINGTON, D.C. A founding member of the AIDS Mission Group at Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C. A member of the AIDS Task Force of the Interfaith Conference of Washington, D.C. A member of the HIV/AIDS Ministries Committee of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. An active member of the Board of Directors of the Quality of Life Retreats project, a ministry within the Baltimore-Washington Conference that provides retreats for persons with AIDS. QUALITY OF LIFE AIDS MISSION Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Established in 1815, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC has been the home to Presidents, members of Congress, and many other public servants. In 1995, Foundry became one of the largest Reconciling congregations in the country, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. This is one of six stoles (#587-591, 846) donated by Foundry 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 589 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous (Donated by Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington D.C.) 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 Foundry United Methodist Church AIDS Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church 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. Thomas S. Russell Stole Text THOMAS S. RUSSELL FOUNDRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Washington, D.C. I credit my parents and two local United Methodist congregations in Dayton, Ohio, with inspiring me to believe in God and fostering my desire to live and serve as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. I served the UMC by teaching school at the Navajo UM Mission School (1979-1981) and also by serving as the Middle East Mission Intern assigned to the Middle East Council of Churches (1983-1986). As a student pastor and deacon, I served congregations in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, and Maryland. In 1990, I came out as a gay man and left the ordained ministry of the United Methodist Church. I decided to seek a loving companion with whom to share the rest of my life. I had to leave the ordained ministry of the United Methodist Church, for I could not be openly gay. With great sadness, I informed my district superintendent and bishop. I told them that I would continue in ministry as a lay person and would seek to do what I could to educate others toward a more loving and reconciling relationship with all people, including people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. My partner Alan and I worship at Foundry UM Church in Washington, D.C., where we have many fine Christian friends in a loving, reconciling, diverse community. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Established in 1815, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC has been the home to Presidents, members of Congress, and many other public servants. In 1995, Foundry became one of the largest Reconciling congregations in the country, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. This is one of six stoles (#587-591, 846) donated by Foundry 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 588 Title A name given to the resource Thomas S. Russell 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 Foundry United Methodist Church Clergy Activist Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Russell, Thomas S. United Methodist Church Washington, D.C. 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. Linda M. Kaufman Stole Text SERVING THE HOMELESS WASHINGTON, D.C. THE REV. LINDA M. KAUFMAN FOUNDRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Ordained in 1987 as an Episcopal priest, Linda Kaufman has served the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. In many ways that have strengthened the congregation and the community. Linda served as Minister of Missions at Foundry from 1996-97, and has also led several spiritual retreats for Foundry women. Linda wore this stole during the Sunday service at the Foundry women's retreat in February 2000. Linda's calling has been very specific and very powerful: to help the homeless, particularly the urban homeless. As Homeless Services Coordinator for the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District, she has established new systems for providing valuable services to the homeless -- from shelter and daily care, to housing and employment opportunities. Linda serves on the ministry of St. Stephen and the Incarnation in downtown Washington. She came out within her conservative Virginia diocese several years ago when she realized the importance of demonstrating that issues of homosexuality in the Church are not abstract and rare, but real in the everyday life of the Church. "We are an incarnational faith," she says, "where knowing someone in the flesh - as we knew Jesus in the flesh - changes us." Knowing each other as we truly are -- "in the flesh" -- is how we grow in faith. Linda and her partner Liane have an adopted son, Ryan, now 12, who began his life as an inner-city child facing the challenges that Linda sees in the people she works with each day. Denomination United Methodist Church Episcopal Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Established in 1815, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC has been the home to Presidents, members of Congress, and many other public servants. In 1995, Foundry became one of the largest Reconciling congregations in the country, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. This is one of six stoles (#587-591, 846) donated by Foundry 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 587 Title A name given to the resource Linda M. Kaufman 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 Foundry United Methodist Church Clergy Activist Episcopal Church Kaufman, Linda M. Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church Washington, D.C. 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. Signature Stole (Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington D.C.) Stole Text (No narrative, signatures only) Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Established in 1815, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC has been the home to Presidents, members of Congress, and many other public servants. In 1995, Foundry became one of the largest Reconciling congregations in the country, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people into the life and leadership of the United Methodist Church. This is one of six stoles (#587-591, 846) donated by Foundry 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 846 Title A name given to the resource Signature Stole (Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington D.C.) 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 Foundry United Methodist Church Ally Clergy Activist Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church 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. Anonymous Stole Text ANONYMOUS I am an ordained elder in the UMC, and I am gay. Since my ordination I served my denomination faithfully as a local church pastor, in district and annual conference work, and for many years as a staff member at the denominational level. I was widely respected across the church. Yet all that time I was gay, and I am still gay. But now in retirement -- because of my hurt, anger and disillusionment at the UMC's negative stance toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people -- I have severed my active ties with United Methodism. I no longer worship in my local church. I no longer serve on local church, district, and annual conference committees and councils. I no longer have contact with many people who were important in my life. And - to add insult to injury - I have to write this statement anonymously. Now I have found my church home in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches where I function as a lay person in a local MCC congregation. I am accepted and loved for who I really am and have always been. I have been in a committed relationship with a same-gender partner for almost sixteen years, and we worship there together. I sing the same hymns and hear the same Scriptures read that have nurtured me all my life. I hear good sermons preached weekly. I eat the bread and drink the juice in the same sacrament of Holy Communion. I worship the same Christ I always have. I receive love from the same God has always loved me. But I do it in a safe place where I am fully accepted and loved completely, just as I am. My stole depicts my journey from the UMC through a time of rebirth and resurrection -- symbolized by the butterflies - to the MCC church, a church that welcomes everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, a church that does not stand in the way of my receiving God's love completely. My version of the UM logo's Pentecost flame is the rainbow, a symbol of diversity! A gay ordained United Methodist elder Southeastern U.S. Denomination United Methodist Church Metropolitan Community Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This anonymous pastor has felt the weight of the church's discrimination for decades; even now he isn't free to identify himself. Nevertheless, he has found a certain sense of freedom and release in the Metropolitan Community Church, a denomination in which he and his partner are welcome. 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 586 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 Unknown, -- Unknown (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous MCC Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States 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. Ken Hundrieser Stole Text FOR KEN This stole is given on behalf of my son Ken. Since conception we prayed for Ken, we dedicated him to God, we baptized him in the UMC. He regularly attended Sunday School, sang in the children's choir. He was confirmed in our church, and church was a second home to all of our families in our clan. When we were called into missionary service to Africa, Ken and his siblings went with us, schooled out there, volunteered at the mission hospital every summer, graduated from secondary school out there with honors, went to the USA to attend University, and found out for the first time that the reason for his disinterest in dating girls all his life was because he was gay. He went to graduate school, and post-graduate school and had a long string of successes. He still sings in the choir, is still in leadership positions anywhere he goes. But he cannot worship in the church of his fore-fathers and fore-mothers, because he should be silent about the gifts of God, not to express them, not to rejoice in the loving faithful relationship he entered into with his mate? Shame on us, United Methodist Church, that we deny our children the Body of Christ. Thank God I had the courage to join my son and his partner in Holy Union in God's presence and that of his family and friends. With grief, but not without hope, Rev. Erika Lemke Hundrieser Chicago, Illinois 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. Erika and her family -- including her son, Ken -- have served the United Methodist Church faithfully across the globe. That Ken is no longer welcome in this same United Methodist Church is a travesty. Erika has been active in the Reconciling movement for many years, working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons 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 584 Title A name given to the resource Ken Hundrieser 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 Rev. Erika Lemke Hundrieser Ally Chicago Clergy Activist Hundrieser, Erika Lemke Hundrieser, Ken Illinois Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology 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. Anonymous (Donated by Joyce Steiner: "Called to Question") Stole Text Called to Question ANONYMOUS United Methodist Seminarian Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This is one of three stoles given to us by Joyce Steiner 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 583 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous (Donated by Joyce Steiner: "Called to Question") 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 Joyce Steiner Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Steiner, Joyce United Methodist Church United States 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 (Donated by Joyce Steiner: "This stole was made to honor one of our ministers, a lesbian...") Stole Text Awaken to Oneness This stole was made to honor one of our ministers, a lesbian. We, the members of her congregation, pray for the day the larger United Methodist Church will awaken to oneness. In so doing the church will at last be able to acknowledge and value our minister for the gift she is to us. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This is one of three stoles (#581, 582, 583) given to us by Joyce Steiner 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 582 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous (Donated by Joyce Steiner: "This stole was made to honor one of our ministers, a lesbian...") 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 Joyce Steiner Clergy Activist Methodist Ohio Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Steiner, Joyce United Methodist Church 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. Andrea Hartman Stole Text ANDREA HARTMAN I was half way through my ordination program through the United Methodist Church when I attended a particular interview session. I was asked questions concerning my position on the Reconciling Movement. I answered honestly that I was very interested in it and would support it through my ministry. After the interview was over, I was followed after by a woman who attended the meeting and she asked me a simple questions, "Are you gay?" Before I gave my response, I remembered a certain female UMC pastor who helped me through my coming out process. Even though I have know what the Discipline has said regarding ordination of homosexuals. I said… "Yes, I am." She kindly looked at me and said, "Well, you don't need to continue with us then." Just like that, I was asked to leave the Methodist Church. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This is one of three stoles (#581, 582, 583) given to us by Joyce Steiner in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. Joyce Steiner was Andrea Harman's roommate in school. 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 581 Title A name given to the resource Andrea Hartman 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 Joyce Steiner and Andrea Hartman Clergy Activist Hartman, Andrea Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church 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 (Donated by Mary Helen Gerwin: "...dedicated to those United Methodists who have dared to help the church understand the special love relationship that supports the lives of homosexuals...") Stole Text This stole is dedicated to those United Methodists who have dared to help the church understand the special love relationship that supports the lives of homosexuals. Love is of God. Jesus understood the power of love and would welcome to the table all those whose lives are ruled by love. 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. 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 580 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous (Donated by Mary Helen Gerwin: "...dedicated to those United Methodists who have dared to help the church understand the special love relationship that supports the lives of homosexuals...") 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 Mary Helen Gerwin Ally Clergy Activist Gerwin, Mary Helen Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/eba0fc4130d4960f3cb1826ee98fc04a.png c3bcb4969661c95c53a253ce02985e18 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 (Donated by Laura Wilson: "Honoring several United Methodists in Ohio who decided not to pursue candidacy...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS Honoring several United Methodists in Ohio who decided not to pursue candidacy at all in the church's current (temporary) inhospitable atmosphere. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This is one of three stoles (#576, 577, 578) given to us by Laura Wilson 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 578 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous (Donated by Laura Wilson: "Honoring several United Methodists in Ohio who decided not to pursue candidacy...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Ohio (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Laura Wilson Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Methodist Church United States Wilson, Laura