11 20 2617 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/a93b045a08fed409c00e57f57fab6412.jpg 07afcd8687be1e2bbb1b06d710c92bd4 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f635859664ea90b37d50eccb912d0909.jpg 3b3306abc606c77bd2d65c21e6b47b89 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 ("A Pastor") Stole Text A Pastor Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story Little is known about the background of this stole, which tells a story with just two words, "A Pastor," and a red AIDS ribbon.The poignancy of this stole is felt by the honoring of a minister who must serve in silence, but apparently of one who must also bear the burden of AIDS in silence as well. In the video, "So Great A Cloud of Witnesses: The Story of the Shower of Stoles Project," I said of this stole, "Sometimes the stoles that say the very least are the ones that speak the loudest..." This is one of about thirty stoles donated to the collection over the years by the members of Rutgers Presbyterian Church in New York in honor of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members, many of whom hold leadership positions within the congregation and in the Presbytery of New York City. 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 276 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("A Pastor") 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 Rutgers Presbyterian Church AIDS Covenant Network of Presbyterians More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns New York Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) 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 ("As a person preparing for ordained ministry, I have submitted a "symbolic" stole in purple, the Church's color of preparation and anticipation...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS As a person preparing for ordained ministry, I have submitted a "symbolic" stole in purple, the Church's color of preparation and anticipation. As a gay man, I struggle frequently to reconcile my sexual identity with the United Methodist Church's current laws that consider me to be "incompatible with Christian teaching." I pray for the day when gay men and lesbians will truly be recognized as "individuals of sacred worth," eligible for full participation in all of the rites, ceremonies, and offices of the Church. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This stole on behalf of an anonymous candidate for ministry was given to us along with a second stole (#643) 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 642 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("As a person preparing for ordained ministry, I have submitted a "symbolic" stole in purple, the Church's color of preparation and anticipation...") 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 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6490b5ecf03f6ecc0384613246f9b248.jpg fb00ec195239ccac799bc46407482d18 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3cf701553010ed7030fa5b2523a5e294.jpg 6a71e3a96647a4c681cc98838900d492 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7a7c82c7fa750e55f06e86055e978700.jpg f30075c08c2acc770c14ab3b83104e63 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 ("For T., who has been ordained a Presbyterian minister...") Stole Text FOR T. Who: Has been ordained a Presbyterian minister Works as a pastor in a church Has wonderful skills and as a preacher Presents theology insightfully and understandably Is a caring parent Is hard working -- worked to get through college and seminary Is brilliant - was at the top of the seminary class Loves -- NO! DO NOT SAY THAT, OR T. WILL BE ASKED TO RESIGN AS A PASTOR Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story The donor of this stole gave us no information about this Presbyterian minister, and requested that the donor name be withheld to protect the minister's anonymity. 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 322 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("For T., who has been ordained a Presbyterian minister...") 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 Withheld Marriage Equality Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Theology United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/dd4aefe265828a236789702c4c3b3774.jpg 87473e6b74bc44b92d26fa719ba61593 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c75325f00f2a6b548f8fbcd780262de7.jpg 383dd7a2338fd70710f755151239cc2c 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 ("Honoring Gay Presbyterians Serving the Church in Oklahoma") Stole Text Honoring Gay Presbyterians Serving The Church In Oklahoma Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1997 Contribution Story This is one in a set of four stoles given to me by the More Light Chapter in Oklahoma honoring some of their members who serve in silence in the leadership of the Presbyterian Church. They were given to me in 1997, when I brought Oklahoma's first display of stoles to Tulsa. 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 335 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("Honoring Gay Presbyterians Serving the Church in Oklahoma") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Oklahoma (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns Oklahoma Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/afc4c789f8845b178edc2e6669766572.png b03ddfbad3198db39b17efb531b99cbf Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Anonymous ("I am a clergy person beginning my ministry in the state of Wyoming...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS I am a clergy person beginning my ministry in the state of Wyoming. I have sacrificed a piece of my life by answering God's Call to be in ministry in the United Methodist Church. This sacrifice is living in a small faith community where it is assumed I am heterosexual, knowing full well, I cannot freely pick my friends or fall in love when that opportunity arises. The symbol I have chosen for this stole comes from the Laramie community. In response to the brutal murder of a gay college student and the continued sentiments of unholiness expressed by many churches, the yellow band with the green circles simply stands for "No Hate!" I don't believe there is a more perfect Christian message. 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 632 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I am a clergy person beginning my ministry in the state of Wyoming...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Wyoming (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Methodist Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church Wyoming Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Anonymous ("I am what fraternities and sororities call a Legacy... generations of family in the M.E. Church, South, the Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Church...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS I am what fraternities and sororities call a Legacy… generations of family in the M.E. Church, South, the Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Church. Brought up by its Sunday Schools, Baptized, Confirmed, sang in her choirs, attended its camps, and married at her chancel. Then, when I got in touch with my sexual orientation, I was no longer allowed to serve as Minister in sharing the gifts and graces which God has given me. There is much sadness and grief and, when I allow it, much anger in not being allowed to be who God has called me to be. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2001 Contribution Story This stole was given to us anonymously. We have no other information about this former United Methodist pastor. 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 697 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I am what fraternities and sororities call a Legacy... generations of family in the M.E. Church, South, the Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Church...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Unknown, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Methodist 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 ("I came out as a lesbian when I was seventeen -- just a couple of years after I first discussed my sense of call to the ministry with the youth pastor... at my church...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS I came out as a lesbian when I was seventeen -- just a couple of years after I first discussed my sense of call to the ministry with the youth pastor who led the Methodist Youth Fellowship at my church. After coming out, I stayed away from the church for a few years, believing that I would not be fully welcomed and that the church has too often stood on the side of injustice. However, I never felt wholly apart from the church. I returned to active participation in wonderful congregations that welcomed my whole self, whole-heartedly. Still, I set aside my sense of call, exploring other avenues of work, and hope that some other work would answer the call I felt. This whole time, I was open about being lesbian in all areas of my life -- with my family, with all my friends, at my college, and at every job I have held. I have never had to compromise being out -- until now. My sense of call to the ministry never left me, always kept nagging at me, until I finally argued it out with God, and came to accept this calling with real joy. The power of that call and the depth of my roots in the Methodist tradition have led me to where I am today: a United Methodist clergywoman, currently serving my first appointment. I love the church and I love being a pastor, but I wonder all the time how long I will be able to do this. What is the cost to myself -- and to my partner? Do I have integrity if I am not "out?" Will I recognize it when the cost is too high? I know that I hold back some part of my energy from my congregation, from fear of not being safe. The closet robs the church of my full ministry. I am submitting this stole anonymously, because of the United Methodist policy that says that I cannot be ordained nor serve as a pastor in this denomination. I look forward to the day when my name can be attached to this stole. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This anonymous stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 648 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I came out as a lesbian when I was seventeen -- just a couple of years after I first discussed my sense of call to the ministry with the youth pastor... at my church...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Unknown, -- Unknown (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Methodist Ohio 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 ("I have been an Elder in good standing under appointment in the United Methodist Church for over thirty years. I choose to remain a silent gay man...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS I have been an Elder in good standing under appointment in the United Methodist Church for over thirty years. I choose to remain a silent gay man, for I know that God has called me, challenged me, enabled me to be effective for God's sake (regardless of Church rules). This call has brought many to a new life in Jesus Christ in these three decades. These gifts from God have brought healing, wholeness, and reconciliation within this ministry. The stole is a cherished gift from a gay priest of another denomination. Praise the God who knows, who cares, and who reaches out to love all in Jesus Christ. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This anonymous stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 668 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I have been an Elder in good standing under appointment in the United Methodist Church for over thirty years. I choose to remain a silent gay man...") 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. Anonymous ("I have found that having AIDS has made me even more sure of God's love for me and for all persons...) Stole Text Anonymous I have found that having AIDS has made me even more sure of God's love for me and for all persons. But as a UM pastor I felt unable to share this experience, even with those who had chronic or terminal illnesses, and was thus unable to share the stories with which I could most effectively witness to my faith and to God's love. Because of this, I found it increasingly difficult to preach and teach that if we Christians were truly open, if we truly loved one another unconditionally as the Lord commands us, we would be able to share our problems as well as our joys with each other. For some years I was able to live with the church law against homosexuality, even though I knew in my heart that it was un-Christian. But, because of the denomination's increasingly harsh stance against some of God's children, which is so foreign to my own experience of Jesus and his message, I finally found it necessary to leave the pulpit. I felt forced to choose between Christ and the Church. Strangely, while many will say my homosexuality is a sin, what I really wonder is if in fact my real sin is my refusing to serve God in the way that was clearly God's will for me. Unfortunately, even having given up the pulpit, I feel it is necessary to remain anonymous. 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 523 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I have found that having AIDS has made me even more sure of God's love for me and for all persons...") 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 AIDS Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5d0cb81d9c2d5ad304dc6ccb97e58875.jpg 5301e0580fececc32ac02ab48dc3a35f https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cd2667f1c297670eb9693ed26311dad7.jpg 51756613a7ffcd4ea915e200a7d835f4 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/75f6a8bad2ea9710451c848dc4108771.jpg 009f2fd73808cb1838f752c5e326e1f2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Anonymous ("I purchased this stole in Jerusalem from a woman who sews such things to raise money... I prayed that my vocation would be a ministry such as hers...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS I purchased this stole in Jerusalem from a woman who sews such things to raise money for Palestinian refugees. When I was ordained, I prayed that my vocation would be a ministry such as hers. Since my ordination, I have been found to be an effective, learning, spiritual leader by my cabinet, my colleagues, and my congregations. But the UMC shames me because of my sexual orientation. I am effective only so far as I remain silent about my sexuality. I die a little more with each General Conference pronouncement that some of the most joy-filled parts of my life are incompatible with Christian teaching. Someday the church will have killed too much of me. Someday I will have nothing left to offer of myself to my congregations. All the while, I'm the one who feels shame for my church. It is the bigotry of the UMC that is incompatible with Christian teaching. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. It was sent to us through a third party; nothing else is known about the donor. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 645 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("I purchased this stole in Jerusalem from a woman who sews such things to raise money... I prayed that my vocation would be a ministry such as hers...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Unknown, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Methodist Ohio Ordination Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9a035fc8f6e1bcca321f22c14490d79a.jpg 49fc1589180f0a44a10f8c0f51a46ef8 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/af50adc632ac434f1da9ba6c4c9d6adb.jpg a7f6a5162a3575b45ca7265224ebb3c3 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 ("Missouri Synod Lutheran - St. Louis, MO") Stole Text ANONYMOUS Missouri Synod Lutheran St. Louis, MO Denomination Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod Contribution Date 1999 Contribution Story This stoles was received with no return address and no note enclosed, so we know nothing more about the identity of the donor other than what is contained on this 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 498 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("Missouri Synod Lutheran - St. Louis, MO") 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. Louis, Missouri (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Lutheran Missouri St. Louis Theology https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f07b1a8362f4e385b17997c2f6e6535b.jpg cf46dc54a342f345e61362daef0a1c97 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b4007babe5397351d28e73d2c0db6ae5.jpg 0f70810230907f18254eee1f25c4cb7c 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 ("T, B & D -- We are three students at a Lutheran seminary...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS "T, B & D" We are three gay students at a Lutheran seminary. Although our voices are silenced, we stand together in the faith that God has called us to ministry, and in the hope that one day soon our gifts will be honored by this church. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This is one of three identical stoles honoring three students at a Lutheran seminary. The three were given to me in 1999, when I was visiting another seminary in the same city. All three young men are now ordained pastors serving Lutheran congregations. 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 438 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("T, B & D -- We are three students at a Lutheran seminary...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Withheld, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Education Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Ordination Theology United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f65394ee0d112eba7f6b78f329897fe1.jpg cf46dc54a342f345e61362daef0a1c97 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/a9d9d670aaa13b4a66ce2f2da5637e73.jpg 0f70810230907f18254eee1f25c4cb7c 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 ("T, B & D -- We are three students at a Lutheran seminary...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS "T, B & D" We are three gay students at a Lutheran seminary. Although our voices are silenced, we stand together in the faith that God has called us to ministry, and in the hope that one day soon our gifts will be honored by this church. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 1999 Contribution Story This is one of three identical stoles honoring three students at a Lutheran seminary. The three were given to me in 1999, when I was visiting another seminary in the same city. All three young men are now ordained pastors serving Lutheran congregations. 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 439 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("T, B & D -- We are three students at a Lutheran seminary...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Withheld, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Education Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Ordination Theology United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e8b9ee7dfdd40219935fd1f7b4049210.jpg cf46dc54a342f345e61362daef0a1c97 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/4857268f99051ec62e98609c10f7bf2a.jpg 0f70810230907f18254eee1f25c4cb7c 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 ("T, B & D -- We are three students at a Lutheran seminary...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS "T, B & D" We are three gay students at a Lutheran seminary. Although our voices are silenced, we stand together in the faith that God has called us to ministry, and in the hope that one day soon our gifts will be honored by this church. Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Denomination Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Contribution Date 1999 Contribution Story This is one of three identical stoles honoring three students at a Lutheran seminary. The three were given to me in 1999, when I was visiting another seminary in the same city. All three young men are now ordained pastors serving Lutheran congregations. 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 440 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("T, B & D -- We are three students at a Lutheran seminary...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Withheld, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Education Evangelical Lutherans of America (ELCA) Lutheran Ordination Theology 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. Anonymous ("This stole was given to me at my ordination into the Methodist Church... thirty-seven years ago...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS This stole was given to me at my ordination into the Methodist Church (now the United Methodist Church) thirty-seven years ago. I have been an effective pastor and conference leader, respected and admired by most people in the churches that I have served and in the Annual Conference. As a gay man, I have grown weary of having to live in fear that the wrong person may find out the real me that God created, and I am deeply hurt by having the Church to which I have given so much tell me that it does not want me because of who I am. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This stole was given to us along with a second stole (#642) 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 643 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("This stole was given to me at my ordination into the Methodist Church... thirty-seven years ago...") 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 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 ("To the family of Jesus Christ: If by chance you are reading this letter...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS To the family of Jesus Christ: If by chance you are reading this letter, I want to thank you for your courage to be here and to read these words. What ever it is that has brought you here, I ask a special blessing upon you. As Peter followed Christ, Christ has brought you here. It will be your choice to choose how to respond. First, regardless of your own sexual orientation, being gay is not the worst thing that can happen to you. For myself, it has not been the curse I was taught it to be. Not everyone that is gay has HIV or AIDS. The gay community is a diverse community within itself. For myself, it has been a blessing that has opened many more doors than I ever thought possible. While some doors have been closed, I have been blessed with the most loving and kind people I could ever have hope to have met or have known. Second, while my orientation was not a choice, it was my choice to choose how to respond. I could have chosen to lie. But I decided to practice what I was preaching. I made the choice to embrace what God created and I decided to love. As our culture continues to open up and accept homosexuality, the lack of inclusiveness, openness and integrity of the church will continue to fall into question. As Jesus said himself, "What so ever you do to the least of each other, so you do unto me," can be seen as an indictment against how the church is responding to this issue. As a minority group, the gay, lesbian, transsexual and transgendered community will never become a dominant force within any particular denomination. It is not a question of forcing an agenda or converting people to a different lifestyle. It is about being inclusive and opening doors to everyone and allowing everyone to have a voice to speak. It is about opening all biblical texts and being open to all images of God that are contained in scripture, not just the ones we like or embody what we want to believe. It is about practicing the family values of love, trust, honesty, and dignity of all people. It is no accident that the gay community chooses the rainbow as a symbol and sign of our community. As the rainbow was a covenant between God and humanity, it has become a sign of inclusiveness for all. We may not be able to choose our orientation, but we do have the choice to choose between love and hate, to support or tear down. We can become victims of our own bigotry or we can open our hearts, minds and souls to a loving God that works through many people of all types, shapes, colors and sexual orientations. God has indeed given us a choice. I for one, choose to love. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This anonymous stole, with its thoughtful, provocative "open letter," 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 509 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("To the family of Jesus Christ: If by chance you are reading this letter...") 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 Clergy Activist Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7032ee894b30d33bf6c39b5731e5e1fb.png 4195367a19cb2d04fd60bc4b6f78ad68 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b2a89723467dc9665dfbd67b578a8f24.png 7cc6774b30eb9044d5d916904c69dc41 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 ("Un Ministro Gay e Hispano... A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North") Stole Text Porque Dios me amó primero; sólo quiero ser fiel a Él me llamó a servir. Un Ministro Gay e Hispano del Norte Because God loved me first; I just want to be faithful to him and to the Church He called me to serve. A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North Denomination #NAME? Contribution Date 1998 Contribution Story People occasionally ask about the number of stoles representing people of color. I know that there are quite a few, but it is impossible to establish an exact number. Although a handful have self-identified as people of color, most (especially those who are ordained) have not; as a result the collection has grown to be relatively "colorblind." In many instances the reason is obvious: The mainline Protestant denominations are overwhelmingly White. For example, if an anonymous Presbyterian ordained lay elder were to reveal their race, in a denomination whose membership is 98% White, it wouldn't take much for someone with ill intentions to make assumptions. At a national church gathering a few years ago, I received a stole in a rather clandestine manner. I had slipped into a large meeting room to take a quick look at a video presentation. It was very difficult to see in the darkened room, so I remained standing against the back wall. Soon, however, someone came up next to me and whispered that he knew who I was, and was hoping I might be able to help him find a way to tell his story. I couldn't make out his face, but he had a distinctly Hispanic accent. He said he couldn't risk identifying his denomination or city; in his tight-knit community would certainly lose his pastorate and would fear for his personal safety. After a quick conversation I thought of a simple way he might "locate" himself without revealing too much: I suggested that he pick a general direction -- east, west, north or south -- to add to his story. He thanked me and disappeared back into the room. The next day I arrived at our information table. On my chair was a paper bag with my name on it, containing a thin red stole. A pink triangle was sewed on one side; on the other side was a rainbow flag with the earth on it. Below these appliques were two statements: <blockquote> Porque Dios me amó primero; sólo quiero ser fiel a Él me llamó a servir. Un Ministro Gay e Hispano del Norte Because God loved me first; I just want to be faithful to him and to the Church He called me to serve. A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North </blockquote> 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 461 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("Un Ministro Gay e Hispano... A Gay and Hispanic Minister from the North") 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 Latinx United States https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/abbfe725226f36e24d5f358984fd77e0.jpg 1c4b9bddca09c00bc0168cc8690c9f19 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b3cb28d6e89f9f1009289c64cef901dc.jpg 930d4cdfdfd150e06d2c2e2aef5c7638 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/85ff414aaaf7ab9721e5d93a97e8091b.jpg 165596cdf5ee5b7252f46c184cf15e7d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shower of Stoles Description An account of the resource Items (stoles) for the Shower of Stoles exhibit Stole A stole in the Shower of Stoles exhibit Honoree The person honored by the creation of thestole. Anonymous ("While I do believe that we are an 'Easter people,'... it feels as though the United Methodist Church is still living in LENT...") Stole Text ANONYMOUS While I do believe that we are an "Easter people," I purchased this purple Lenten stole because it feels as though the United Methodist Church is still living in LENT: "pre-resurrection." Until all of us who love our God and who faithfully live out our callings as United Methodists are willing and able in love to open the tombs of those of us who are GLBT (people of color, differently-abled, low-income... and ALL others who are not free to be fully ourselves in the Church) Jesus remains in the tomb as well. May we soon be able to say TRULY as a whole Church, "CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!" From a lesbian clergywoman, ordained for 22 years and serving in the Pacific Northwest. Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Date 2000 Contribution Story This anonymous stole was given to us in advance of the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH. In 1999, the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) inquired about the possibility of having a display of the Shower of Stoles at the General Conference the following April. At the time, there were only around twenty United Methodist stoles in the collection. We decided to introduce the Shower of Stoles to the Reconciling community by bringing the twenty UM stoles and about a hundred others to RMN’s Convocation in Denton, TX over the Labor Day weekend. Stoles started to trickle in during the fall, and by February they began coming in droves. In all, we received 220 United Methodist stoles – the vast majority of them arriving within eight weeks of the Conference. Thanks to a monumental effort by a number of volunteers who pitched in to help record, inventory, sew labels and make last-minute repairs, all of the new stoles were present in Cleveland. Twenty more people brought stoles directly to Cleveland, bringing the total number on display to 240. Towards the end of the General Conference, twenty eight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender United Methodists and allies stood on the Conference floor in silent protest over the Conference’s failure to overturn the ban on LGBT ordination – a profound witness and act of defiance for which they were later arrested. As these twenty eight moved to the front of the room, another 200 supporters stood up around the balcony railing, each wearing one of the new United Methodist stoles. Hundreds more stood in solidarity as well, in the balcony and on the plenary floor, wearing symbolic “stoles” made from colorful bands of cloth. A group of young people from Minneapolis, members of a Communicant’s Class, had purchased bolts of cloth the preceding evening and stayed up all night cutting out close to a thousand of these “stoles.” In less than eight months, a handful of stoles had grown to become a powerful, visible witness to the steadfast faith of LGBT United Methodists nationwide. Martha Juillerat Founder, Shower of Stoles Project 2006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 717 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("While I do believe that we are an 'Easter people,'... it feels as though the United Methodist Church is still living in LENT...") Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Unknown, (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Anonymous Methodist Reconciling Ministries Network (formerly Reconciling Congregation Program) Theology United Methodist Church United States Women and Religion https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c6599b1645e5b50f48768370f40bfe8f.jpg fddad84ef9669856b285787d977b3f04 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/dca927ca4fdcc4d6fa3ebbde1ca49d97.jpg 24d38c75958d7c58079eeea4ca000f37 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 ("You know me. I am your daughter, your pastor...") Stole Text You know me. I am your daughter, your pastor. You nurtured me, encouraged me, ordained me. For over 20 years I have served at every governing body level. Yet I cannot tell you my name. For me the risk is still too great. I work and pray for the day when I am free to say who I truly am. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story The video "So Great a Cloud of Witnesses; The Story of the Shower of Stoles Project" opens with camera shots of the inside of a sanctuary: a vacant pew, an empty pulpit, an organ bench and darkened choir loft. At the same time, a woman's voice is heard reading this stole: <blockquote> You know me. I am your daughter, your pastor... </blockquote> This stole eloquently speaks for all of us. It declares that we are not "someone else;" we are not outsiders. We are your family member, your pastor, your musician and teacher. We are your elected official, your governing body staff, your deacon, elder and bishop. We are the person sitting right next to you in your pew. Several years ago a group of students at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO arranged to have a display of stoles about a hundred stoles at one of their chapel services. They selected twenty anonymous stoles from this group and draped each one over a random spot in a pew throughout the chapel. There was a large turnout for services that day; students and faculty quickly filled in the pews around the scattered stoles. At the beginning of the service a student noted the presence of the twenty anonymous stoles, adding, "You are sitting next to someone you know." The response from those nearest the stoles was palpable. The unnamed and unknown had been "embodied." One closeted student -- whose own anonymous stole, unbeknownst to the those on the worship team, had been included with the others -- later told me in private of the powerful effect this had on her: "That wasn't just my stole there; it was me." 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 289 Title A name given to the resource Anonymous ("You know me. I am your daughter, your pastor...") 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 Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Theology United States Women and Religion