94 20 2617 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/86cdf9bd1591b489eae43cc8070b4dff.jpg 7e70849012f85b88fe29769500d77028 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e63c4406b30e43f391d213395f95effb.jpg a31731205f870f83db09ec2c48d4e4fb 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. Rev. Rod Reinhart Stole Text REV. ROD REINHART EPISCOPAL 17 years ago Rod Reinhart founded People Who Care About People With AIDS, an AIDS Ministry of the Episcopal Church. He is an active interim minister in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. He is currently rector of Nativity Episcopal Church in Bloomfield Hills. Fr. Reinhart fought a long struggle against the forces of prejudice and homophobia in order to be ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. He has long been an open advocate of full inclusion and equality for GLBT in society and the church. Fr. Reinhart is also the founder of the World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation. This is a new interfaith holy day dedicated to making peace among all religions, races, nations and ethnic groups. Denomination Episcopal 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 839 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Rod Reinhart Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Rod Reinhart AIDS Clergy Activist Episcopal Church Michigan Reinhart, Rod Theology 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. Rev. Ron Roberts Stole Text Rev. Ron Roberts Presbyterian Church (USA) Camdenton, MO From a letter to Shower of Stoles Project founder, Martha Juillerat: Martha, I am sending my favorite stole, a Pentecost stole hand-fashioned by Roger, the long-time organist at Grace Church. It is sent as my personal celebration for the new era in the PCUSA marked by the enactment of Amendment 10-A on July 10, 2011. I was both a commissioner to the General Assembly where this amendment passed and Moderator of Missouri Union Presbytery when we voted to join the majority of Presbyteries with the first positive vote on this issue in the Presbytery’s history. I am delighted with the church-wide vote and want to express my gratitude to you and others who so diligently and at times so painfully advocated for this openness. I have always appreciated your role and that of the divinely inspired Shower of Stoles for helping all of us to visualize so dramatically this blind spot in the church’s vision. I hope there is room for one more stole and that you are well and joining in this celebration. Your OLD friend, Ron Roberts Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 2011 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 1130 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Ron Roberts Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Camdenton, Missouri (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Ron Roberts Ally Clergy Activist Missouri Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Roberts, Ron 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. Rev. Sarah J. Flynn Stole Text Rev. Sarah J. Flynn American Catholic Church of New England (formerly United Methodist Church) Burlington, Vermont I am sending with this letter a stole bearing the United Methodist emblem at one end of it. I am sending with this letter a stole bearing the United Methodist emblem at one end of it. I wore this stole during my pastoral ministry which began as a student pastor in 1961 and continued as a full time Elder after I was ordained. I served parishes in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut before leaving pastoral ministry. The reason for leaving was that I had finally come face to face with my transsexual gender identity after having struggled to deny it for about 25 years. I completed my transition in 1978 and started life over, eventually becoming a college registrar and advisor which became my second career. During my second career as a registrar I served for 9 years as a United Methodist supply pastor on weekends. I served on conference committees and even arranged the installation service of an incoming bishop. The bishop who had originally ordained me to the ministry had, after I transitioned, re-issued my ordination papers in my new name at the request of the bishop under whom I had been serving. I believe this was a bold step for a bishop to take in 1978. It was even bolder perhaps to appoint me to a part-time parish which I served on a “don't ask, and I won't tell” basis (but if asked, I would have told!) Why then am I sending this stole? Because 1.) I owed it to the many LGBT people who had helped me over the years to come out and make my witness on behalf of their need for justice, and 2.) I met the woman who became my same-sex life partner. Being out and being in a same sex relationship put me at odds with the United Methodist Church policy banning self-avowed, practicing homosexuals from being appointed to parishes or blessing same-sex unions. I am guilty of being and doing both. So I left the part-time parish I was serving, retired from the United Methodist ministry and have been serving as a priest in an open and affirming church ever since. I left because I did not want to create problems for the liberal bishops under whom I had served. By law, they would be forced to put me on trial even though it would be contrary to their own consciences to do so. I left also because there is much to be done both in terms of pastoral ministry and social justice advocacy for LGBT people and I could not do that work and avoid becoming involved a futile trial proceeding that would lead to my dismissal. Out of respect for the bishops who took such risks I thought it best to leave on my own and continue the work in another church. Rev. Sarah J. Flynn American Catholic Church of New England Denomination United Methodist Church Contribution Story Click <a href="https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=244">here</a> to read Rev. Sarah Flynn's biographic profile on 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 1071 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Sarah J. Flynn Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Burlington, Vermont (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Sarah J. Flynn Clergy Activist Flynn, Sarah J. Methodist Theology Transgender activism United Methodist Church Vermont 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. Rev. Thomas J. Denier Stole Text Rev. Thomas J. Denier "Love God… and love your neighbor as yourself." Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) 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 80 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Thomas J. Denier 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 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Thomas Denier https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ad1614112d6ed49bd2493c51bef6d05a.png 1fe7b9427e0fd1d7e2f8a8cc1b7846cf 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 Queer Spirit Podcast Description An account of the resource Podcasts from WMPG.org and 90.9 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 Rev. Virginia Marie Rincon Subject The topic of the resource Queer Spirit Podcast Description An account of the resource Rev. Virginia Marie Rincon is an Episcopal priest, a ritual weaver, a Curandera an activist and an advocate. After 20 years as a nurse in the public sector, Rev. Virginia went back to school there she earned a BLS in Social Work from St. Edward's University in Austin, and later a Master's in Divinity degree from The Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. She was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in 2003. Her years in ministry focused on liberation, spirituality, and the healing of mind, body, and soul. While living in Maine, Rev. Virginia founded Tengo Voz, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment and leadership of Latina women in Maine. More recently Virginia has returned to the path her grandmother prepared for her as a curandera/ a healer. She lives and works in Los Angeles, California where she continues to support people on their spiritual paths. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Marvin Ellison and Tamara Torres-McGovern Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Virginia Marie Rincon https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/faeed71e85f5d1e3c17d93293365b4c0.jpg 4d2421b65f5d8623979f1be0de8854f8 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5d75af18645fc267a2753955a7a23c4e.jpg f75ce3b2859d3fd3d34f28548dcbe7f8 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. Rev. Wendy Vander Hart Stole Text REV. WENDY VANDER HART United Church of Christ Melrose, MA I was born into the church with a preacher father and director of music mother. It was into the Reformed Church of America that I grew as a Christian, a denomination that only started to ordain women when I finished at Hope College in 1985. Andover Newton Theological School was the next stop on what I thought would be a career of teaching. But I was blessed to find Church of the Covenant in Boston with the kind of extravagant welcome I never thought possible. I felt the call to ministry working with the children of Covenant and was completely out within the safe walls of that church. I was ordained in 1989. The search process for my first call to First Congregational Church in Reading, MA, however, was a “don’t ask, don’t tell” experience. So was my second call to Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, UCC. But through a painful divorce and the joy of finding love again, the people of Melrose UCC came by the busload to my wedding to my spouse, Joanne. Though our church voted for Marriage Equality in 2005, I long for the day when they will take the next step of becoming Open and Affirming! Denomination United Church of Christ Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given in celebration of the United Church of Christ's 50th Anniversary, and for the refuge that the UCC has offered for so many GLBT clergy. 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 1108 Title A name given to the resource Rev. Wendy Vander Hart Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Melrose, Massachusetts (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rev. Wendy Vander Hart Marriage Equality Massachusetts Open and Affirming in the UCC (ONA) United Church of Christ Vander Hart, Wendy Women and Religion https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/fd9e39d2e6f0975aae11d305510ea25e.jpeg 397c095e6d4f17ff620d44f55df44078 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 Person An individual. Local URL The URL of the local directory containing all assets of the website https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/bobbiejean-baker 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 Reverend Bobbi Jean Baker Subject The topic of the resource Minister Bobbie Jean Baker pulled herself up from drugging and stealing in the streets to become an influential figure in the transgender movement. Her story exemplifies how choosing a spiritual life can enable a person to reverse a downward spiral. That was the victory she had when she decided to take a different path after incarceration and never looked back. She became an usher at the City of Refuge UCC in San Francisco. She joined and enjoyed singing with the Transcendence Gospel Choir. Minister Baker was appointed adjutant and minister in training with Bishop Yvette Flunder. Minister Baker enrolled in seminary at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley and served as the West Coast Regional TransSaints Minister of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. Additionally, Bobbi Jean Baker was a lay minister at Transcending Transgender Ministries. She worked for several Bay Area non-profits as a speaker and workshop leader. The skill development involved her various roles, including serving others as a peer advocate, case manager, and housing manager. Additionally, she was certified as an HIV Risk Assessment Counselor and as a Domestic Violence Specialist. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.transfaith.info/articles/bobbie-jean-baker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbi_Jean_Baker https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/bobbiejean-baker 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 Website A resource comprising of a web page or web pages and all related assets ( such as images, sound and video files, etc. ). URL https://www.transfaith.info/articles/bobbie-jean-baker 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 Reverend Bobbie Jean Baker Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Transfaith https://www.transfaith.info/articles/bobbie-jean-baker https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6d4b276717db4aa6f01a5e03fb727274.jpg 7ae73a4ccedde63efd399c9f73518a25 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7c8ed231eda326830027d94158bdb740.jpg 7c17044c0a8142e064d3e4387b93e45a 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. Reverend Dámaris E. Orgeta Stole Text THE REVEREND DÁMARIS E. ORTEGA<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> United <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Church of Christ New York, NY I thank God for making me as I am. I thank God for calling me to serve the church as I am. I thank God that The Spirit called me to freedom and to be a witness of God’s diverse creation! Following my passion for ministry and service in the church that nurtured my growth and development as a young Christian, I was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Puerto Rico in 1995. After experiencing the bias and open discrimination of the Puerto Rican church, approving a resolution to ban openly gay and lesbian people to serve as pastors, I left without any hope in coming out and affirming my sexual orientation. Giving up this stole to be added to the collection of the Shower of Stoles Project marks the end of that hopeless period in my journey. In the United Church of Christ I have experienced God’s extravagant welcome, offering not only hope to my life, but the vision, courage and passion to my spiritual journey and ministry. Denomination United Church of Christ Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Contribution Date 2007 Contribution Story This stole was given to me during a meeting of the Bishops & Elders Council in Sarasota, FL in September, 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 1110 Title A name given to the resource Reverend Dámaris E. Orgeta 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 Reverend Dámaris E. Orgeta Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) New York New York City Ordination Orgeta, Dámaris E. Theology United Church of Christ https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e8c7544a9d48ea9153d4ebc72c6f35cf.jpg 2fb187420e6c184e87ef99de439cb048 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 Website A resource comprising of a web page or web pages and all related assets ( such as images, sound and video files, etc. ). URL https://transformnetwork.libsyn.com/resipiscence-2020-lenten-devo-31-w-guest-jeanelle-nicolas-ablola 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 Reverend Janelle Nicolas Ablola - External Interview Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Resipiscence 2020 Lenten Devo #31 w/ Guest Jeanelle Nicolas Ablola https://evolvingfaith.com/conference/speakers-index/jeanelle-n-ablola 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. Reverend Joe Halloran Stole Text Reverend Joe Halloran Roman Catholic Colorado Springs, Colorado This stole was used in Catholic Masses in many different countries. Denomination Roman Catholic 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1084 Title A name given to the resource Reverend Joe Halloran Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Reverend Joe Halloran Catholic Colorado Halloran, Joe Roman Catholic https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/17453387faa048ff87755275b7e4b894.jpg ef8ac9cd79fe694b4a9f5c2079f49949 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 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 Reverend Lloyd Keigo Wake - Ally Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://rafu.com/2018/01/obituary-rev-lloyd-wake-longtime-theologian-and-activist/ https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/0ac370ea38a2fed71d99968603c30b53.jpg 57349d7912602f4e8e69aa167e2b07bd 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 Person An individual. Local URL The URL of the local directory containing all assets of the website https://www.them.us/story/the-divinity-of-transness Biographical Text “Remember, to be trans is one of the most spiritual things one can ever be in and of itself — even should you never pray.” 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 Reverend Valerie Spencer Sees The Divinity of Transness Subject The topic of the resource Reverence Spencer earned her Master degree in Social Work at the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary and upon graduation became a therapist. 2017 - She was on fellowship when she attended the Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle in New York. It was sponsored by Auburn Seminary, and it focused on self-care issues relevant to Black Trans women engaged with social justice movements. It was a unique program that says for the first time nurtured, celebrated, and provided ritual experiences to address who she is. Reverend Valerie Spencer shares a message urging queer and trans youth to remember the sacred nature of their lives. 2005 First CDC consultation She coordinated that event. Description An account of the resource Reverend Spencer Quotes: “Your role, queer young people, is to remain true to who you are, to tap into that truth, and to live in it fully. That’s your birthright, your sacred duty.” Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived By Rev. Valerie Spencer and Wren Sanders. THEM, July 1, 2022. https://www.them.us/story/the-divinity-of-transness Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Photo: National Black Justice Coalition https://nbjc.org/valerie-spencer-msw/ Interview with Valerie Spencer. Feminist Archive Exhibits. 2017. https://uwb.ds.lib.uw.edu/feministarchiveexhibits/exhibits/show/transgenderactivists/item/215 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/3d776f7392186efd8c7b760f3ed9cbc8.jpg d90ec69dbb27868a1034ccea6f024ca3 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 Person An individual. Biographical Text Born in 1957 the Reverend Yunus Coldman is a BIPOC leader, born in Buford, South Carolina, who now lives in New York City and who plays several trans-spiritual roles at the same time. He is Chief Executive Officer of Soulful Touch Services. He is a licensed New York Wedding Officiant. He also offers a range of ceremonial and spiritual services (counsel, meditation, etc.) For example, many people turn to him for instruction because he is a Certified Reiki Master Teacher. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Enoch Page, Curator Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Yunus Coldman Location The location of the interview Zoom 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 Reverend Yunus Coldman https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/877fc5f2790d7e3c8d55aa8855cd187f.jpg e87ddd0c829f5cd63ba5b66c8f824c62 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/1ab0460bbda7f4dcc93369cb55270366.jpg 7c350e99639b891a2827efe080925f83 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c6550f29e30ee82883eccb756a567075.jpg 67c3ca1e3aebedf2595fd524e11661f5 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7a10d9a3825534b260e054e4f1ae0120.jpg 5db859b59d52044c627024ab766b8036 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document The Friend February 15, 1963 "Towards a Quaker View of Sex" The unofficial group of Friends who since 1957 have been examining sexual problems and morals have now completed an essay, TOWARDS A QUAKER VIEW OF SEX, which is to be published in a few days' time by the Home Service Committee. "The origins of this pamphlet", as the Introduction states, "lie in problems brought by young Quaker students, faced with homosexual difficulties who came to older Friends for help and guidance. It appears that the Society of Friends as such had little to say to people troubled sexually, and that at the same time many friends were in serious doubt whether the Church's traditional view spoke to this condition. The need was clear for research into sexual problems and morals: and for Friends to ask themselves where their responsibility lay. A group of concerned members of the Society accordingly gathered in 1957 to re-examine through thought and prayer this most difficult of problems. It has met regularly ever since and includes those with experience in teaching, penology, marriage guidance, psychiatry, biology, psychology and the law." The members of the group are: KENNETH C. BARNES, Headmaster of Wennington School; ANNA M. BIDDER, research worker and teacher in zoology, Cambridge University; RICHARD FOX, Senior Registrar, Bethlem Royal, Maudsley Hospital; ALASTAIR HERON, Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Direct of the Medical Research Council's Unit on Occupational Aspects of Ageing; G. JOYCE JAMES, housewife, one-time marriage guidance counsellor (who was unable to attend during the last year); KENNETH NICHOLSON, Headmaster of the Friends' School, Saffron Walden; MERVYN PARRY, teacher of educational subnormal children; LOTTE ROSENBERG, consultant psychiatrist and child psychiatrist; ALFRED TORRIE, consultant psychiatrist; KEITH B. WEDMORE, barrister-at-law; and one member who for professional reasons must remain anonymous. The essay, not having been discussed by the Society, does not of course purport to be an "official" statement. It is reviewed by John Ounsted, Headmaster of Leighton Park School, in the article below. __________________________ "Oh dear--not sex again!" a Young Friend was heard to remark recently. It is a comment with which many of us must sympathise, knowing how many other good things ought to claim our time and attention; and after the very full discussion which took place in these columns and in Friends' circles generally a year ago one cannot perhaps reopen the subject without some good excuse. The excuse is that the comment on our sexual situation made by this new pamphlet is "different from all the rest." What is our sexual situation? It is a situation of every increasing "knowledge" in the sense that more and more people know and openly discuss more and more "facts" about sex in its widest sense; and yet of more and more confusion as the welter of information and of rival dogmatic statements becomes more than our minds can deal with. We rejoice to see many old misconceptions (like those about masturbation) abandoned; but find equally numerous new ones in their place. It is impossible to know how much sexual unhappiness there used to be, but we know for certain that (and I mean among the most modern and enlightened of people) there exists and enormous amount of it today. Into this situation two classes of serious doctrines are propounded (quite apart from the influence of fiction, entertainment and advertising whose actual effect on people's actions is, no doubt, much greater than either). One, now quite respectable enough to be published in Pelicans and broadcast on the BBC advocates far greater permissiveness in every direction, and in particular recommends that there should be more or less extensive heterosexual experience, including coitus, in the period between puberty and marriage; but that after marriage there should, on the whole, be faithfulness between the partners until death (or divorce). The other, while advocating (what has a\often not been displayed in the past) the utmost charity towards those who disagreed with it, or who agree with it but fall short of their own ideals, expounds the "traditional Christian belief" part of which contradicts the former doctrine in stating that love relations outside marriage must never extend to coitus. The previous publications of the Home Sevice Committee (including Harold Loukes's admirable pamphlet Christians and Sex: A Quaker Comment) have fallen in the latter group. Now comes TOWARDS A QUAKER VIEW OF SEX which, as indicated above, is radically new in its approach. It has been produced by a group of eleven Friends (rather than a specialist group, as the list at the head of this article shows), who have met monthly over a period of five years. Their starting point was the need to discover how to advise Quaker undergraduates facing homosexual difficulties, and although they have moved on to cover the whole field this origin is significant for its influence on their thinking throughout. Three chapters chiefly describe the facts about contemporary behaviour; the fourth is entitled "A New Morality Needed". The fifth gives practical guidance to any Friend who may have to give advice on sexual problems. There follows a practical appendix listing sources of professional help for more serious cases, and an admirable book list. Two more appendices giving some scientific theories about sex and descriptions of the less common abnormalities might well have been omitted except that they include the important and far too little publicised fact that apparent sexual compatibility in premarital intercourse may be associated with impotence or frigidity after marriage--one of the many compelling reasons for advising an engaged couple against "trial marriage". The first way in which this pamphlet is "different" lies in its insistence on our facing the reality (Friends might be expected to lead other Christians in doing this) that there occurs an enormous quantity and variety of socially unacceptable sexual behaviour, not simply among don't-cards or delinquents but among good and sincere people of the sort who may be or become the pillars of society and indeed the Society of Friends; and that the consequences of this for the individuals involved may or may not be disastrous, depending on how the situation is handled. It reminds us that shoe considered socially acceptable may well, nevertheless, be leading lives which fail to create sexual happiness for themselves and their marriage partners. It tells us that the Friend asked for advice must be unshockable and free from emotional prejudice if he is to be of help. (I wonder if this is wholly true? Does not experiencing the fact that he has given a severe emotional shock to the person he respects enough to have turned to counsel often awaken someone for the first time to knowledge of the truth about himself?) All the same, it usefully emphasises (in relation to being "shocked") that fear of masturbation and of homosexuality tends to make the practice of them more frequent, and that both sorts of adolescent homosexuality flow naturally into heterosexuality and marriage. Secondly, it emphasises the wrongness of the current tendency to take sexual relationships casually and superficially or in isolation from other aspects of life; and the need for what would be my definition of charity, namely, that all relationships should be warm, deep, and personal. There is a good section explaining where Friends come into all this: that their historic insistence on full equality of the sexes should lead to their being especially awake to sexual problems; that their attitude of search for new light should free them from old formulas when those prove ineffective; that their refusal to divide the sacred from the secular should enable them to study God's purpose even in places where some Christian prejudice might make it seems that he was not present at all; that the wide sharing of pastoral duties consequent on the "priesthood of all believers" makes readiness to give sexual counsel a widely shared responsibility (and has the incidental advantage of making it more easy to accept that those who give such counsel are also normal men and women with sexual problems of their own). All Friends who expect to be giving sexual advice are recommended to read this pamphlet and think about it with great care. It will make them think, and it needs intensive thought. It was easy to find much praise; it is very much harder to explain what one has against the pamphlet without quoting it as a whole. But, when it comes to the main point, I found it disappointing. The Devil could cite it to his purpose, as the writers indeed frankly recognise in talking of "the permissiveness we appear to support". Looking at my notes I find I could provide plenty of texts from it to support my own beliefs about sex (which cannot be fully expounded in this review): The social codes changes...the truly religious (code) is changeless and eternal. There must be a morality of some sort to govern sexual relationships. We believe that there is indeed a place for discipline. In the power of the Holy Spirit there are no dangers from which strength cannot be gained, no apparent disaster which cannot be transformed into spiritual opportunities. Most people...would agree that the family as a social unit should be safeguarded and sexual practices that threaten its stability vigorously discouraged. [Friends recognised this by having a "Marriage and Parenthood Committee". The tendency to look at sex in isolation from parenthood is one of the chief faults of modern sexual thinking, and one from which this pamphlet is by no means free. Does laying down this Committee imply a change of belief about this?]* But I think the authors do not share my beliefs. And if they do, they certainly don't make it clear that they do. Indeed, a lack of clear statement both in detail and of the overall implications of the work is its principal weakness. As an illustration of the style of expression throughout: "Neither are we happy with the thought that all homosexual behaviour is sinful." I do not suppose there is anyone who would be "happy with the ought": the question is whether the authors are or are not stating their believe that not all homosexual behaviour is sinful. More important than such details is the overall confusion produced in the reader by balancing any statement that seems clearly weighted on one side with another (sometimes quite separate) giving the opposite emphasis. The idea which could be put: "This is a very complicated matter; almost anything might be true" is sound enough as a starting point for most issues, but not positively helpful as a conclusion. Confusion is produced, too, by attaching (as is common) extreme wide meanings to the words love and sex. For example, "any personal relationship between two people carries a sexual element"; and commending "love" in eternal triangle situations in such terms as to make it uncertain whether they believe (my tentative conclusion is that they do believe) that in some cases this should involve being on coitus terms with two different partners at the same time. Love is not merely, confusingly, almost identified with sex and sex with coitus; it is also (which is a logical enough consequence) set in antithesis to duty. But is it not the experience of most Christians that love by all Christian definitions is something which both produces duty and grows by duty, that the two are inextricably bound and mutually nourishing, like the symbiotic partners in a lichen? When Professor Carstairs was believed to have stated in his BBC Reith Lectures that it would be beneficial to our society if premarital coitus took place more freely and frequently, Free Church, Anglican and Catholic leaders took the opportunity to reiterate publicly the traditional Christian view that coitus should take place only within marriage. Supposing a Friend were to lay before Yearly Meeting a concern that Friends should state the same, and that this pamphlet were a "document in advance", what would happen? One might have expected the Quaker Committee to agree with one view of the other, or to propound a new one. It does none of these things. Instead of being called TOWARDS A QUAKER VIEW OF SEX the pamphlet might have been called AWAY FROM A TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN VIEW OF SEX; for it seems to reject the latter, chiefly by reference to the many abuses which have arisen from the traditional view (for example, ill-treatment of illegitimate children, imprisonment of homosexuals, unloving marriages), abuses that many Christian-traditionalists clearly recognise are only abuses and not part of their code. It equally seems to reject the Carstairs view; but instead of producing a third way simply nails its colours firmly to the fence: "...how difficult it has been for us to come to definite conclusions as to what people ought or ought not to do." Is there not a contradiction between this reason for rejecting a moral absolute, "We think it is our duty not to stand on a peak of perfectionism", and the following fine and inspiring passage which perhaps presents the final positive message of the pamphlet?-- The challenge to each one of us is clear: accustom yourself to seeking God's will and the experience of his love and power, become used in your daily life to the simple but tremendous spiritual fact that what God asks he enables, provided only and always that we will to do his will. In other words: "All you've got to do is to be a saint and you'll find your sexual actions are not sinful, as neither are your others". For us poor sinners, so given to blinding ourselves with self-centred desire, isn't the traditional Christian code of chastity, taking in its total Christian context of charity as defined above, more likely to clear the mists and give us a glimpse of God and his will? John Ounsted ___________________________ *The passage in brackets is, of course, John Ounsted's comment, not a quotation from the report. Discussion on BBC Television The report will be the subject of a discussion in "Meeting Point" on BBC Television on Sunday (February 17) at 6:15 p.m. Kenneth Barnes and Anna Bidder will be questioned by Paul Ferris, of The Observer, and a psychiatrist. The report, price 3s. 6d., is obtainable from the Home Service Committee or the Friends Book Centre, both at Friends House, Euston Road, London, NW1. 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 Review in The Friend, 15 Feb 1963 Description An account of the resource The Friend, the weekly communications vehicle of the London Yearly Meeting, published a pre-release review by John Ounsted that was respectful but critical. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reproduced by permission of The Friend, February 15, 1963, pp. 180-183. https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/dc0c61d42ab4da8edfba76c43977af26.jpg 79ced77af08da0b1924d214d7775fc7c 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 YouTube Video A video hosted on YouTube. YouTube ID Eleven-character ID assigned by YouTube b2lMb-58MH4 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 Rewriting the Script: A Love Letter to Our Families Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Produced and Directed by Friday Nite Productions, a Toronto-based collective of South Asians. 2001. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2lMb-58MH4 Subject The topic of the resource A video that focuses on how family members respond when other family members come out as GLBT. Description An account of the resource The video features, among others, Rupert Raj with his sister Amala. They and other families discuss the coming out of family members. While these families experienced minimal trauma (in the form of parents and siblings choosing to accept and adjust), some commentators note that coming out can present a spiritual crisis for all when the family is unwilling to allow a flexible adjustment. Strict religious beliefs and social mores often dictate this rigidity. This is why a person coming out can feel great shame and believe there will be no acceptance of their gender or sexual identity. Even when the child is a cisgender gay or lesbian, they still may commit suicide upon seeing no acceptance of who they are. The video notes that suicide can be a way of not having to confess to the family that one is queer. It was not yet known when this early film was made that the rate of suicide attempts is highest for trans people. The risk rises even higher when the trans person feels compelled to change or modify their biological sex to align with their felt gender, as Rupert Raj did. The video makes the point that in South Asian societies coming out places one immediately at odds with culture and religion which are obstacles the survivors and their relations must navigate. As a result of the stresses generated, some who come out abandon religion altogether, and others seek to find space within their faith or create new forms of faith more suitable to them. However, the video does acknowledge how ancient South Asian religious traditions have always provided space for sexual differences and gender variance that the dominant religions do not. https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cfece401f081d15d4a9e0734a4b7e5b0.jpg cad63b87b023834c958f67551ae9b51c https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/31309e415559cb2527def5cfe9ecf48e.jpg 83745598006770b4483203ce15172c4e 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. Rich Horton Stole Text Rich Horton Cleveland Heights, Ohio Father, Elder, Church School Teacher who lost his opportunity to serve the church when he claimed his identity as a gay man He left the Presbyterian Church (USA) for another denomination in which he is welcome Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) #NAME? Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story Rich Horton is a friend to members of Noble Road Presbyterian Church, a long-time More Light congregation in Cleveland Heights, OH. Rich's stole was included with a few others we received from Noble Road in 1996. 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 306 Title A name given to the resource Rich Horton Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Cleveland Heights, Ohio (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Rich Horton and Noble Road Presbyterian Church Horton, Rich More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns Ohio Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Theology 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. Richard (Dick) Hetz Stole Text In Honor of THE REV. RICHARD (DICK) HETZ From Donn Crail West Hollywood, California The Rev. Dick Hetz was the pastor of Baldwin Park Presbyterian Church in San Gabriel Presbytery (now a More Light congregation) in the 1970's. Though a gay man, Dick remained "technically" in the closet, and in 1980 was appointed as Stated Supply of West Hollywood Presbyterian Church during the years that Chris Glaser was there as Director of the Lazarus Project. Though essentially filling that role, Chris could not be called as pastor of the church because the "definitive guidance" of the denomination did not allow him, as an openly gay man, to be ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament. Dick remained moderator of the WHPC session until his untimely death in 1983. In the history of the gay liberation struggle in the PCUSA Dick Hetz played an early and significant part. Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1997 Contribution Story This is one of fifteen stoles from members, elders, deacons, and pastoral staff at West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (WHPC). West Hollywood Presbyterian Church is a historical icon in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as well as the Welcoming Congregations movement. WHPC was at the forefront of the civil rights movement in Los Angeles and in the early 1960's began to close each service by singing the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" - a tradition that continues to this day. As early as 1964 (five years before the Stonewall rebellion), West Hollywood Presbyterian Church hosted what is believed to be the first openly Gay Men's "Rap" Group in the city of Los Angeles and the church began to minister to the spiritual needs of the Gay & Lesbian community who had been drawn by its message of inclusiveness. Soon nationally known spiritual author Chris Glaser would launch "The Lazarus Project" at WHPC - A program to advocate for Gay & Lesbian spiritual and human rights. In October of 1984, WHPC called an openly gay man, the Reverend Dan Smith, to serve as its pastor. Dan continues to be the only minister in the country serving a Presbyterian congregation who went through the entire call and installation process as an "out" gay man. While proudly continuing its tradition of progressive spirituality and activism, this multi-cultural congregation feeds approximately 4,000 hungry and homeless people each year, builds homes for economically-challenged families under the "Habitat for Humanity" program, offers an HIV Spiritual Support Group, provides a "Children's Church" program and continues to openly take stands on political issues involving civil rights. West Hollywood Presbyterian also claims to espouse a theology that is "perhaps the most pro-feminist in Los Angeles." 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 400 Title A name given to the resource Richard (Dick) Hetz Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Hollywood, California (USA) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Donn Crail, on behalf of West Hollywood Presbyterian Church AIDS California Civil Rights Movement Clergy Activist Feminism Glaser, Chris Hetz, Richard Lazarus Project Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) Smith, Dan Theology https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/71073063f17ea8b27ed1995ba4fa4220.jpg 905a4229bc906fc51b1d4ba8a5bb24b0 https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/79bc22897b7446ab309b273db6312aae.jpg f2a96986abe569f411cf9bdcaa7f66e6 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. Richard Benesh Stole Text RICHARD BENESH Denomination Presbyterian Church (USA) Contribution Date 1996 Contribution Story 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 267 Title A name given to the resource Richard Benesh 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 Covenant Network of Presbyterians More Light Presbyterians for LGBT Concerns New York New York City Ordination Presbyterian Presbyterian Church (USA) That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) https://www.exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6bbe970f13ad2bd734b77ff76a6b07bb.pdf eef07dec873aea1aeec80b06b582e07e Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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 Richard Daller's Address