76 20 2479 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. Jay Smith Mark Williams Stole Text JAY SMITH MARK WILLIAMS Given by John and Joan Smith Presbyterian Elders In dedication and support of our wonderful son, Jay Smith and his partner, Mark Williams, two of the most dedicated Christian men and church musicians who deserve God's, the peoples' and our everlasting love. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1998 Contribution Story John and Joan Smith are both ordained Presbyterian Elders at First Presbyterian Church in Ewing, NJ. They have been active in the welcoming movement in the Ewing and Princeton, NJ area. This is one of sixteen stoles donated by First Presbyterian Church of Ewing, NJ on behalf of members and friends of the congregation. 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 464 Title A name given to the resource Jay Smith Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Ewing, New Jersey (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource John and Joan Smith Ally Clergy Activist New Jersey Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Smith, Jay Smith, Joan Smith, John Williams, Mark https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/bc18c7d07ccc2031eea295c9ccc142fe.jpg 775868cee5b19878ace9ba64be130877 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3444887145d11b97e029f08f589be8ce.jpg de41ac948f5358d69112695b35e56484 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. Jay Kleine Stole Text Jay Kleine "Came out" during his senior year at Austin Seminary. Three years later he has no call, no ordination. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1995 Contribution Story This is one of twelve stoles donated to the Shower of Stoles by Merrill Proudfoot on behalf of friends and colleagues. We have no other information about Jay other than what is written on the stole. 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 120 Title A name given to the resource Jay Kleine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant , (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Merrill Proudfoot Kleine, Jay Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Proudfoot, Merrill 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. Jay A. Wiesner Stole Text This stole is given in honor of Jay A. Wiesner, my seminary classmate and friend. Jay and I entered the ordination track in 1995, planning to graduate in 1999. During the years in which we studied together, I recognized in him many gifts for the practice of ministry: love for the study of Scripture, exceptional taken in vocal and instrumental music, deep compassion for people, and a sharp sense of humor. I couldn’t understand Jay’s frequent assertion that he felt like an outsider to the seminary community, until he revealed to me that he was gay, and had come to fully realize this truth in the context of all the difficult personal work which the candidacy process encourages us to do. Ironically, that same process now told him that he could only pursue ordination if he would agree to celibacy for the duration of his career, a gift with which Jay did not feel he had been blessed. Jay made the agonizing decision to withdraw from the ordination track, and from our class, to determine how to live out the call to ministry with integrity, in the full realization of his God-given identity. He’s not completely certain of his future in the church, but he’s made a conscious decision not to leave. I submit this stole as a sign of the future church, one which not only allows, but encourages gay and lesbian candidates, like my Brother Jay, just as enthusiastically as it had welcomed me to serve as an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament. Wendy Sherer, 1999 M. Div. graduate Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2015 Contribution Story Originally a part of the collection of stoles housed by ReconcilingWorks (formerly known as Lutherans Concerned), this stole was donated by them to the Shower of Stoles Project in 2015 . 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 1214 Title A name given to the resource Jay A. Wiesner 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 Wendy Sherer Ally Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Ordination Reconciling Works (formerly Lutherans Concerned) Sherer, Wendy United States Wiesner, Jay A. 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. Jaqueline Skiles Stole Text JAQUELINE SKILES Park Slope UMC Brooklyn, New York I was born and raised in the Methodist Church and was always proud of it and its stand on social justice and human problems and issues -- until now. The hatred and vilification directed towards lesbians, gays, and bisexuals (which really includes everyone) is shocking and disgusting, to say the least. Why should people have to hide their love for another human being? Have it made fun of, ridiculed, rejected, and despised? Men have harassed women sexually forever and gotten away with it. Why does a sexual overture by a gay person result in death -- by horrible means? Why can't love between gays and lesbians be acknowledged and honored in our church? If not, is it Christian?? Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This is one of thirty one stoles from Park Slope United Methodist Church included in a display of UM stoles at the 2000 General Conference of the UMC in Cleveland. All are made from identically sized pieces in turquoise, lavender and purple cotton batik, With only 200 members, Park Slope has donated the largest number of stoles to the collection from a single United Methodist congregation. A diverse community, Park Slope's creed is: Hand in hand, we the people of the Park Slope United Methodist Church -- black and white, straight and gay, old and young, rich and poor -- unite as a loving community, in covenant with God and the Creation. Summoned by our faith in Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves to the humanization of urban life and to physical and spiritual growth. A scrappy congregation utterly committed to putting their faith into action, Park Slope has been unrelenting in its pursuit of justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the UMC. Jaqueline Skiles expresses the anger and inner conflict felt by many LGBT people who are life-long Methodists -- angry at a denomination that once stood for justice and equality that now perpetuates injustice; struggling over whether to remain a part of an unjust institution that nevertheless remains a part of their spiritual fabric. If not for places of welcome like Park Slope, Jaqueline and many other LGBT people of faith would be long gone from 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 541 Title A name given to the resource Jaqueline Skiles Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Brooklyn, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Park Slope United Methodist Church Clergy Activist Methodist New York New York City Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Skiles, Jaqueline United Methodist Church 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. Jannine Jennings Stole Text I am a child of God Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so. God created me… Just as I am and that creation is good! Gen 1:27, 31 Jannine Jennings Former Elder, Wapato Community Presbyterian Church, Wapato, WA Member, Wallingford United Methodist Church, Seattle, WA Elder - Clerk of Session - Trustee - Sunday School Teacher - Co Chair, Pastor Nominating Committee - Youth Leader - Chair, Finance Committee - Turkey Carver - Chair, Christian Education Committee - Friend - Confidant - Single Woman And then came Amendment B - The Presbyterian Church said that I was no longer welcome to serve. Even though no one in the local church knew I was a lesbian, I knew. And I knew I could not lie to God about my sexuality or defy Church law. So, I left the church, wondering if there would ever be a place where I could serve in Christian community and be accepted for all of who I am. Fortunately I've found a Reconciling United Methodist Church where I can freely worship and serve God. Here I am accepted. Here there is no fear. Here my wounds are healing. Here I've grown to accept myself more fully. However, I know this does not exist at every church. Both clergy and laity are still suffering and discriminated against. The tears will not stop flowing from my heart until all God's people are allowed to worship and serve openly, without the fear of being rejected or violating Church law. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) 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 521 Title A name given to the resource Jannine Jennings Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Seattle, Washington (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jannine Jennings Jennings, Jannine Methodist Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Seattle Theology United Methodist Church Washington 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. Janie Spahr, Laurene Lafontaine, Chris Glaser Stole Text In Honor of Janie Spahr, Laurene Lafontaine, Chris Glaser, and other friends and co-workers seeking a more faithful church -- for this generation and the generations to come. "My heart is moved by all I cannot save. So much has been destroyed...." [text missing] Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Story You can read Chris Glaser's biographic profile <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=4">here</a>, in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profile Gallery. Click <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=1">here</a> to read Janie Spahr's biographic profile in the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network's Profile Gallery. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 53 Title A name given to the resource Janie Spahr, Chris Glaser, Laurene Lafontaine Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Bear Scott 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 YouTube Video A video hosted on YouTube. Embed Code The html embed codes for this object. <iframe width="600" height="337" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Osc_F0d_nZ8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> 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 Janie Spahr on RTSA Jane Spahr Janie Spahr https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/bbe5d95ac9b521bd79bf888fb51f9f25.jpg 69f02f6abdc85a4d221876e99975944b Person An individual. Text Any textual data included in the document The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, Janie, as she prefers to be called, describes herself as a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to justice issues for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community, pursuing connections for wholeness with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom. Janie was ordained a Presbyterian Minister in December 1974 to the Hazelwood Presbyterian ministry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serving with mentor and friend, Wanda Graham Harris. She served 1975-1979 as Assistant Pastor of First Presbyterian in San Rafael, California. In 1979-1980, Janie became Executive Director of Oakland Council of Presbyterian Churches in Oakland where she was encouraged to resign because of being lesbian. Janie began her "out" liberation work with and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as the Minister of Pastoral Care in the Castro area of Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco from 1980-1982 when her own Presbyterian denomination did not know what to do with this "lesbyterian". In November of 1982 Janie, along with many friends, founded the Ministry of Light which became the Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns. She served as their Executive Director for over 10 years. From youth groups, parent groups, PFLAG, support groups, family camps, AIDS Ministry, speakers bureau, this ministry has become the L/G/B/T center in Marin County, California, where it continues to flourish. Janie completed her work there on February 28, 1993. In November of 1991 Janie was called to serve as one of four Co-Pastors at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York. She was denied that call by the denomination's highest court in November 1992. In March of 1993 The Downtown United Presbyterian Church invited Janie to become their evangelist to spread the good news by "personing the issue" and challenging exclusive church policies. Janie has traveled throughout the country, educating and informing Presbyterians and others working on behalf of greater inclusiveness for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. During the past eight years Janie has devoted much of her efforts to developing official regions to educate and advocate for a just and inclusive church, resulting in the creation of eight such regions. In 2002 these eight regional partnerships included five "out" Evangelists: Rev. Cliff Frasier, Presbyterian Welcome (NY); Rev. Don Stroud, TAMFS-Baltimore; Rev. Annie Petker, TAMFS-NCal; Tom Hickock, TAMFS-Chicago, now Eily Marlow and LaDonna Sanders, Field Interns; Mardee Rightmyer, TAMFS-South; and Regional Partnership Coordinator, Lisa Larges. This outreach educational and advocacy ministry is called That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) sponsored by DUPC in Rochester and partnered with Westminister Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, California. Janie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 12, 1942, sharing her mother's womb with her wonderful twin sister, Joanie. They are the daughters of parents, Chet and Susanna Adams. Janie is the "wife emerita" of Jim Spahr and proud mother of sons, Jim and Chet. She is the "sister-in-love" of Bill Fenton (Joanie's partner) and Jackie Spahr (Jim's partner). (This biographical statement provided by Janie Spahr.) Biographical Text The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, Janie, as she prefers to be called, describes herself as a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to justice issues for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community, pursuing connections for wholeness with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom. Janie was ordained a Presbyterian Minister in December 1974 to the Hazelwood Presbyterian ministry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serving with mentor and friend, Wanda Graham Harris. She served 1975-1979 as Assistant Pastor of First Presbyterian in San Rafael, California. In 1979-1980, Janie became Executive Director of Oakland Council of Presbyterian Churches in Oakland where she was encouraged to resign because of being lesbian. Janie began her "out" liberation work with and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as the Minister of Pastoral Care in the Castro area of Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco from 1980-1982 when her own Presbyterian denomination did not know what to do with this "lesbyterian". In November of 1982 Janie, along with many friends, founded the Ministry of Light which became the Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns. She served as their Executive Director for over 10 years. From youth groups, parent groups, PFLAG, support groups, family camps, AIDS Ministry, speakers bureau, this ministry has become the L/G/B/T center in Marin County, California, where it continues to flourish. Janie completed her work there on February 28, 1993. In November of 1991 Janie was called to serve as one of four Co-Pastors at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York. She was denied that call by the denomination's highest court in November 1992. In March of 1993 The Downtown United Presbyterian Church invited Janie to become their evangelist to spread the good news by "personing the issue" and challenging exclusive church policies. Janie has traveled throughout the country, educating and informing Presbyterians and others working on behalf of greater inclusiveness for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. During the past eight years Janie has devoted much of her efforts to developing official regions to educate and advocate for a just and inclusive church, resulting in the creation of eight such regions. In 2002 these eight regional partnerships included five "out" Evangelists: Rev. Cliff Frasier, Presbyterian Welcome (NY); Rev. Don Stroud, TAMFS-Baltimore; Rev. Annie Petker, TAMFS-NCal; Tom Hickock, TAMFS-Chicago, now Eily Marlow and LaDonna Sanders, Field Interns; Mardee Rightmyer, TAMFS-South; and Regional Partnership Coordinator, Lisa Larges. This outreach educational and advocacy ministry is called That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) sponsored by DUPC in Rochester and partnered with Westminister Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, California. Janie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 12, 1942, sharing her mother's womb with her wonderful twin sister, Joanie. They are the daughters of parents, Chet and Susanna Adams. Janie is the "wife emerita" of Jim Spahr and proud mother of sons, Jim and Chet. She is the "sister-in-love" of Bill Fenton (Joanie's partner) and Jackie Spahr (Jim's partner). (This biographical statement provided by Janie Spahr.) 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 Janie Spahr Jane Spahr Janie Spahr MCC Metropolitan Community Church Presbyterian TAMFS That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f87c6d17d74aac0ff00e1a0af67d92f0.jpg 196337259f81ab6f5c144a81b65e0531 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. Janet Parker Stole Text REV. JANET PARKER NYC PRESBYTERY Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story Rev. Dr. Janet Parker is Associate Pastor for Parish Life at Rock Spring United Church of Christ in Arlington, VA. She is an ordained Presbyterian minister who is seeking privilege of call within the United Church of Christ. She graduated with her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1989 to serve a Taiwanese/Chinese UCC congregation in Staten Island, NY. She pastored Jan Hus Presbyterian Church part-time while pursuing a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York, which she completed in 2001. Following the September 11th attacks, Janet served the Presbytery of New York City as Coordinator for Disaster Relief. From 2002-2004, Janet taught Christian ethics at Chicago Theological Seminary. During the 2004-2005 academic year, she was a postdoctoral Visiting Fellow in public theology at Princeton University's Center for the Study of Religion, and accepted a call to Rock Spring UCC later in 2005. For the past several years, Janet has served on a theological advisory team accompanying the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence initiative. Janet's stole is one of ten stoles given to the Shower of Stoles collection in early 1996 by Jan Hus Presbyterian 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 106 Title A name given to the resource Janet Parker Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant New York, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jan Hus Presbyterian Church Atherton, Charles Clergy Activist International Human Rights More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns New York New York City Parker, Janet Pisek, Vincent Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Janet Hansted Meadors Stole Text Scarlet is the liturgical color for only one day of the Christian calendar, that is Good Friday. The background of the stole is scarlet representing we are still in in an age, and in the midst of a church that is killing both the message and the messengers of God’s good news. The word of hope comes in hearing the voice of God naming and claiming all of us in our baptism – “beloved.” Not beloved, if you will change, simply “beloved.” The somewhat translucent writing and sign of the baptismal shell represent the Spirit’s work in our midst, and the hope that one day soon we as the church will all live into our full identity as beloved people of God, no exceptions. I believe that day is coming. Paraphrasing from the Service of Ordination: “Gracious and Almighty God, who has given us to the will to do these things, graciously give us the strength and compassion to perform them.” Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2015 Contribution Story Originally a part of the collection of stoles housed by ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation, this stole was donated by them to the Shower of Stoles Project in 2015. 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 1233 Title A name given to the resource Janet Hansted Meadors 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 Janet Hansted Meadors Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Meadors, Janet Hansted Ordination Reconciling Works (formerly Lutherans Concerned) Theology 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. Jane Ramseyer-Miller Stole Text JANE RAMSEYER-MILLER Artistic Director, One Voice Mixed Chorus Twin Cities, Minnesota Mennonite culture is in the very marrow of my bones. I grew up steeped in four-part harmony and was mentored, encouraged and inspired as a musician in that rich, musical faith. I envisioned a future for myself that allowed me to integrate my faith with my gifts as a musician, organizer and activist. After my partner and I married in the early 90’s, the doors of the Mennonite church were abruptly closed to me. I was no longer invited to conduct, lead singing, write or compose within the denomination. I went from working in the Mennonite denomination to searching for a completely new vocation. I smile now at the irony of the Mennonite denomination’s exclusion of gay, lesbian and bisexual Christians. For the past decade I have made my living conducting an 80-voice GLBT community chorus. We work at social change through music in order to make our world a more welcoming place. This GLBT community has become the ultimate beneficiary of the gifts, lessons and skills afforded me by the Mennonite church as I plan concerts, conduct, compose, and collaborate with other denominations, communities and arts organizations. Denomination Mennonite Church Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story Given in conjunction with One Voice Mixed Chorus' "Reclaiming Faith" concerts in January, 2007. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1088 Title A name given to the resource Jane Ramseyer-Miller Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant St. Paul, Minnesota (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jane Ramseyer-Miller Marriage Equality Mennonite Church USA Minnesota Ramseyer-Miller, Jane St. Paul Theology Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/8559de102c511fb1d534ad250646fa1e.jpg de29368ed4fec61a49c9c5e3f865d404 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/659a3fa863fa2fbe0263a688d41acfd8.jpg b8d1a077cb4bea78de372a84479a8463 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. Jan X. Stole Text IN HONOR OF JAN X. FROM PEG AND DOUG ATKINS Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1995 Contribution Story This is one of five stoles donated to the collection by Peg and Doug Atkins of Kirkwood, MO, outside St. Louis. All five stoles honor friends of theirs 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 128 Title A name given to the resource Jan X. 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 Peg and Doug Atkins Atkins, Doug Atkins, Peg Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) United States https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/2c34323a5fa4b1fa60d2e46f9563ee11.jpg f1215f6eef3cc8275c524794b260d586 Person An individual. Text Any textual data included in the document The Rev. Jan Griesinger was ordained in the United Church of Christ (UCC) in 1970. She has worked in the field of campus ministry since that time, first for the World Student Christian Federation and then as the Director of United Campus Ministry at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Griesinger came out in 1977 and has worked as an out lesbian pastor since that time. In 1977, she participated in the UCC Gay Caucus at the UCC General Synod and has continued her leadership in that organization, now the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns. She served on the first Coalition Council in the late 70's and early 80's and was Moderator of the Council. Griesinger was elected the National Coordinator of The Coalition in 1984 and served in that position until 1997. She maintained The Coalition national office, co-published the newsletter, arranged for annual National Gatherings, and served as a spokesperson for The Coalition in national UCC settings. In 1990, she was a co-founder of Christian Lesbians OUT (CLOUT), a national, ecumenical organization of proudly progressive, actively anti-racist, creatively spiritual, milagro bound out Christian lesbians. She served as the first CLOUT treasurer and has served since 1998 as the CLOUT National Coordinator. Griesinger served on the first Steering Committee for the National Religious Leadership Roundtable organized by the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force. She has been the National Co-Director for Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) for lesbians aged 60 and over since 2004 and previously served on the steering committee for the group. She is also a co-founder of the Susan B.Anthony Memorial UnRest Home Women's Land Trust near Athens, Ohio. Filmmaker Ann Alter produced a film, No Need to Repent, in 1990 about the ministry, life and politics of Jan Griesinger. This film is distributed by Women Make Movies, 225 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012. (This biographical statement provided by Jan Griesinger.) Biographical Text The Rev. Jan Griesinger was ordained in the United Church of Christ (UCC) in 1970. She has worked in the field of campus ministry since that time, first for the World Student Christian Federation and then as the Director of United Campus Ministry at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Griesinger came out in 1977 and has worked as an out lesbian pastor since that time. In 1977, she participated in the UCC Gay Caucus at the UCC General Synod and has continued her leadership in that organization, now the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns. She served on the first Coalition Council in the late 70's and early 80's and was Moderator of the Council. Griesinger was elected the National Coordinator of The Coalition in 1984 and served in that position until 1997. She maintained The Coalition national office, co-published the newsletter, arranged for annual National Gatherings, and served as a spokesperson for The Coalition in national UCC settings. In 1990, she was a co-founder of Christian Lesbians OUT (CLOUT), a national, ecumenical organization of proudly progressive, actively anti-racist, creatively spiritual, milagro bound out Christian lesbians. She served as the first CLOUT treasurer and has served since 1998 as the CLOUT National Coordinator. Griesinger served on the first Steering Committee for the National Religious Leadership Roundtable organized by the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force. She has been the National Co-Director for Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) for lesbians aged 60 and over since 2004 and previously served on the steering committee for the group. She is also a co-founder of the Susan B.Anthony Memorial UnRest Home Women's Land Trust near Athens, Ohio. Filmmaker Ann Alter produced a film, No Need to Repent, in 1990 about the ministry, life and politics of Jan Griesinger. This film is distributed by Women Make Movies, 225 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012. (This biographical statement provided by Jan Griesinger.) 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 Jan Griesinger CLOUT (Christian Lesbians OUT Together) Jan Griesinger UCC United Church of Christ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Jan Everhart Stole Text JAN EVERHART I was a General Conference delegate in 1988 and 1992, and have held a number of leadership positions in my conference. For seventeen years, I served as a parish pastor. I left parish ministry for the sake of my integrity and the health of my family. My partner and I shared our story with the congregation where we had shared only part of our lives for nine years, so that they would understand why we were leaving. Presently it is so painful to attend the UMC for worship that we have joined the Metropolitan Community Church, although our roots are Methodist and we hope, someday, to return. Denomination United Methodist Church Metropolitan Community 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 621 Title A name given to the resource Jan Everhart 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 Jan Everhart Clergy Activist Everhart, Jan MCC Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) United Church of Christ United States Women and Religion https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/91ea7056f7a42ea035b02ff00e940fd1.png 371791dbb66450de23dba55a299620dd 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 The Historical Development of BIPOC Trans-spiritual Leadership Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. 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 Jamison Green Subject The topic of the resource FTMI Presents the First FTM Conference of the Americas in San Francisco, 1995. Description An account of the resource In his keynote address, Green as president of FTMI (appointed by Lou Sullivan), observes: "We hear a lot these days about the ‘Gender Community’ or the ‘FTM Community’. But unlike the ‘Gay or Lesbian Communities,’ there really is no community of transgendered or transsexual people. … But the majority of the activism and visibility is carried by male-to-female transgendered and transsexual people. FTMs as a group don’t seem to be as active or as visible. " Pointing out the nature of the problem, he further states: "Are we too diverse to ever form community? Last year I was honored to accept a Transgender Pioneer Award from the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy, and during my little speech at the awards presentation dinner, I asked (another rhetorical question): Who Is the FTM Community? And a very enthusiastic and well-meaning Phyllis Frye called out “You are!” And I said, “NO! I am Not the FTM Community.” We are trying to create one just by naming it. It may exist someday; it does not exist now. And it won’t exist until we learn to come together and get beyond our personal issues." Green astutely concludes: "I believe this is an evolution of consciousness, and it starts with each of us." Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keynote Address From the 1st FTM Conference of the Americas, by Jamison Green, Issue #58 of FTM International published in Spring 2005, p. 4. Keynote Address from the 1st FTM Conference, August 18, 1995, Part 2 of 2). Written and delivered by James Green. ©1995 Jamison Green. All rights Reserved. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context "FTM Newsletter #58." Periodical. 2005. Digital Transgender Archive, https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/qv33rw66f (accessed March 22, 2023). "FTM Newsletter #59." Periodical. 2005. Digital Transgender Archive, https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/pc289j08t (accessed March 22, 2023). https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/43892dca8a232fda3de5d6b7d8e84f7b.jpg fa1c73aeaa3c4d40ea4c3b55d8db4e4e Person An individual. Text Any textual data included in the document Jamie Manson is a columnist and the books editor at the National Catholic Reporter. To her knowledge, she is the only out queer woman in the global Catholic media. Jamie received her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, where she studied theology, spirituality, and sexual ethics. She served as research assistant to Margaret Farley, work that she continues to do to this day. In 2015, she edited the book Changing the Questions: Explorations in Christian Ethics, a collection of writings by Margaret Farley (Orbis Books). Jamie began her career as Director of Publications at Yale Divinity School where she created an entirely new publications program and re-launched the School’s magazine, Reflections, serving as its editor in chief for five years. Her calling to be an activist ignited in 2005, when she was hired as Pastoral Associate and Director of Faith Formation at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Manhattan, a parish dedicated to lifting up the poor, homeless, and LGBTQ people. In 2008, she was hired as Director of Social Justice Ministries at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in New York City, where she ministered full time to the needs of Manhattan’s poor and homeless population. In 2008 she also began writing her National Catholic Reporter column, “Grace on the Margins,” which has won dozens of awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Religion Newswriters Association. She also won the 2015 Wilbur Award for Best Online Religion News Story for the story “Feminism in Faith,” written for Buzzfeed. Her activism on behalf of women and LGBTQ people earned her the Theresa Kane Award for Women of Vision and Courage from Women’s Ordination Worldwide in 2015. A native of New York, Jamie lives on the south shore of Long Island, and travels around the country as a speaker, retreat leader and media commentator on issues related to women and LGBTQ Catholics, young adult Catholics, and the future of the church. (This biographical statement provided by Jamie Manson.) Biographical Text Jamie Manson is a columnist and the books editor at the National Catholic Reporter. To her knowledge, she is the only out queer woman in the global Catholic media. Jamie received her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, where she studied theology, spirituality, and sexual ethics. She served as research assistant to Margaret Farley, work that she continues to do to this day. In 2015, she edited the book Changing the Questions: Explorations in Christian Ethics, a collection of writings by Margaret Farley (Orbis Books). Jamie began her career as Director of Publications at Yale Divinity School where she created an entirely new publications program and re-launched the School’s magazine, Reflections, serving as its editor in chief for five years. Her calling to be an activist ignited in 2005, when she was hired as Pastoral Associate and Director of Faith Formation at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Manhattan, a parish dedicated to lifting up the poor, homeless, and LGBTQ people. In 2008, she was hired as Director of Social Justice Ministries at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in New York City, where she ministered full time to the needs of Manhattan’s poor and homeless population. In 2008 she also began writing her National Catholic Reporter column, “Grace on the Margins,” which has won dozens of awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Religion Newswriters Association. She also won the 2015 Wilbur Award for Best Online Religion News Story for the story “Feminism in Faith,” written for Buzzfeed. Her activism on behalf of women and LGBTQ people earned her the Theresa Kane Award for Women of Vision and Courage from Women’s Ordination Worldwide in 2015. A native of New York, Jamie lives on the south shore of Long Island, and travels around the country as a speaker, retreat leader and media commentator on issues related to women and LGBTQ Catholics, young adult Catholics, and the future of the church. (This biographical statement provided by Jamie Manson.) 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 Jamie Manson Catholic Jamie Manson Roman Catholic https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/13609f13f1248cdcce797c40f90b1e80.jpg afb2680e84681a3a9eb9fcebbd6f35dd https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f446bbd13b95ce02c2ca08d1f5435eb6.jpg 0794ad51192ced19221003b1b925c29f 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. Jamie ("Jamie, my friend") Stole Text Jamie, my friend Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story We know nothing about the honoree or donor of this stole. It arrived along with about 30 stoles from Rutgers Church in New York, but had no accompanying note. Something about it, though, has touched people over the years. Its simplicity -- a cross cut from braided string, a cut-out moon and sequin stars on black cloth -- and the few words written so carefully in silver ink, have stopped many people and made them ask of me, "What can you tell me about Jamie?" We have no answer to the question -- it remains in the the air, and leaves a sadness. The church's forced silence has left us with one more story -- one more person -- that we will never know. Established in 1798 in lower Manhattan, Rutgers has a long history of involvement in social justice and community development issues. Rutgers is a More Light congregation, working for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life and leadership of the Presbyterian Church. Along with More Light Presbyterians, Rutgers is a sponsor of Presbyterian Welcome (an affiliate of That All May Freely Serve) and the Covenant Network in their common pursuit for the end of discrimination against LGBT persons in the Presbyterian 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 268 Title A name given to the resource Jamie ("Jamie, my friend") 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 Unknown Covenant Network of Presbyterians More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) 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. James Wesley Stole Text JAMES WESLEY Washington Square UMC New York, New York Compared to my friends, I came out relatively late. I was in my mid-20's and going to a fairly large, established Methodist church on the influential west side of Los Angeles. I only knew one gay person who went to the church and that was just a guess on my part. I was very involved in a 20-something group and really felt like I belonged. However, the more comfortable I felt with being gay, the more uncomfortable I felt in participating in anything at church. The pastors with whom I felt most connected left not long after I started the coming out process and were, unfortunately, replaced by an older, conservative man with whom I felt extremely uncomfortable. Gay issues were rarely, if ever, discussed. One day I decided I wouldn't go anymore. The sad thing is that after going every Sunday for a few years, I never heard a word from anyone at that church. If it weren't for the reconciling movement, I probably would have never again set foot in a Methodist Church. After all, I'm already looked upon as an outsider and deviant by a sizable portion of the population, I don't need to feel that way in my own church! Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story Washington Square has long been a place of welcome to New York's LGBT community. The Rev. Paul M. Abels, Washington's Square's pastor from 1973-1984, was the first openly gay installed parish minister in a major Christian denomination. The church was also home to the Harvey Milk School of lesbian and gay youth and the Gay Men's Health Crisis Center. Known as the "Peace Church" due to its antiwar activism during the Vietnam War, Washington Square hosted dozens of other activist groups over the years, from the Black Panthers to community housing development organizations and a variety of dance, theater and music groups. In 2004, the congregation decided that renting space for worship and other programs would be a better use of their resources than maintaining their church and the parsonage, two old and decaying landmarks. The buildings have since been sold, and Washington Square has merged with Church of All Nations and Metropolitan-Duane United Methodist Churches. This stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. Members of Washington Square joined with Park Slope Methodist Church to contribute 35 stoles for display in Cleveland. Washington Square's four stoles and Park Slope's thirty one are identically sized pieces made from turquoise, lavender and purple cotton batik. In addition to his own stole, James Wesley also made one in honor of Chad Miller from Washington Square (stole #680). 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 681 Title A name given to the resource James Wesley Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant New York, New York (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Washington Square United Methodist Church Abels, Paul M. AIDS Civil Rights Movement Clergy Activist International Human Rights Methodist Milk, Harvey New York New York City Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church Wesley, James https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/53b5ccff05a5055510f753f8cf11cf73.jpg c60d6e8ccb479b3dad40652917d2c458 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 The Upstairs Lounge Fire Person An individual. 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 James Walls Hambrick Description An account of the resource James Walls Hambrick, 45, Navy veteran and successful businessman, died June 28, 1973, from burns sustained in the fire. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Times-Picayune, June 29, 1973. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7beaa13fa99c2e93b3c28a66c5899999.jpg deb42e5b0833c9169fbeb2e07baaf07b https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/23fcadc923f25c701b279ba506313cee.jpg 600fffc9ead2a3f96dc94620387b2db5 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. James Stiles Stole Text James Stiles Called By Our Baptism Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2001 Contribution Story This is one of 52 stoles donated to the Shower of Stoles collection by members and staff of Church of the Covenant. Although each of the stoles is unique, all of them are tied together by the inclusion of a piece cloth from a common bolt of blue and ivory material somewhere in the stole. James' stole includes drops of water below the words, "called by our baptism." Covenant is both a More Light and Open and Affirming Congregation. Their strong and public advocacy on behalf of LGBT persons in the life and leadership of the church has drawn many LBGT persons to become a part of the Covenant church family. Their 52 stoles represent the largest subset of stoles given to the collection by any one congregation. Church of the Covenant, a federated United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church, is steeped in history. Located just off the Boston Commons, the Gothic revival building erected in the mid-1800's was one of the first churches built in the Back Bay area. In the 1890's the sanctuary was completely redecorated by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., including the creation of an extraordinary set of Tiffany stained-glass windows and a chandelier that is said to be the first electrified light installed in a public building by Thomas Edison. Covenant's history of social justice and human rights work is equally rich. When I visited Covenant, I was intrigued to learn that the church was a designated stop along the "Boston Women's Heritage Trail." One of Covenant's members, Abbie Child, was the head of the Women's Board of Missions of the Congregational Church in the late 1800's. Another member, Dr. Elsa Meder, was one of the first women ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Elizabeth Rice and Alice Hageman, ordained in 1974 and 1975 respectively, were the first women to serve as pastors at a Back Bay church. When they were joined by Donna Day Lower, the church became the only one in the United States with three women clergy. Since opening the "Women's Lunch Place" in 1982, the church has served as a haven for poor women and their children. It is fitting, then, that one of the Tiffany windows is "Four Women of the Bible," including Miriam, Deborah, Mary of Bethany, and Dorcas. Covenant remains on the forefront of work for equality and justice, and is active in the LGBT Welcoming movement in the Boston area and beyond. 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 759 Title A name given to the resource James Stiles Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Boston, Massachusetts (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Church of the Covenant Boston Feminism Massachusetts More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Stiles, James Women and Religion