John Cole

This is for John, who passed away in May, 1995.

John was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches, as well as in the Church of Northern India. He lived and served in India as a missionary for many years. The "stole" selected in his memory is a rope, because his ecclesiastical garb was simple and monastic, with a rope as the sash. When he first came to our church, we asked, "Who's that stranger in the white robe?" When he died, we recalled the passage from Hebrews 13:9: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Upon returning to the United States after his retirement, John continued to work with the church serving as a volunteer associate pastor in a town near the church retirement community where he lived.

John was loved by his many, many friends throughout the world. Upon learning of his illness and coming death, the Christian ashram in India where he had lived and served was renamed in his honor.

John was a gay man.

This stole was one of the original 80 stoles that were on display on Sept. 16, 1995 when I set aside my ordination before Heartland Presbytery (see stole #1 for details). Two of the 80 were from missionaries, including this one that honors John Cole.

This "stole" is actually a cotton rope sash cord of the type that is worn around the waist over an alb. As the story states, John's tastes were simple; he chose to invest his resources in those he served in India and the U.S. instead of expensive vestments or other accouterments.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006