‘Shower of Stoles’ on display in OKC

An example of the minister's stoles on display at the Cimarron Alliance Equality Center, and Sunday at Cathedral of Hope OKC. Photo courtesy Shower of Stoles project.

To kick off Pride month in Oklahoma, Cathedral of Hope, Oklahoma City and the Cimarron Alliance Equality Center announce the presentation of the nationally renowned “Shower of Stoles Project” in Oklahoma City, from June 2-8.

Based in Minneapolis, the Shower of Stoles is a project of the Institute for Welcoming Resources of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The project tells the stories of LGBT persons and their rejection by churches and other religious groups, through a collection of clerical stoles and the stories of the individuals behind them.

Although the collection itself numbers over 1,000, the Project sends displays of 50-100 stoles to locations throughout the United States to share their messages. The life stories shared through these stoles represent persons who have served in over thirty denominations and faith traditions, and come from six countries on three continents.

The Project is a witness to the huge loss of leadership the Church has brought upon itself because of its own unjust policies. The Shower of Stoles is displayed with the profound hope that the church will someday fully recognize and accept its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members. Additional information is available at www.WelcomingResources.org.

A reception to welcome the Shower of Stoles Project to Oklahoma City will be held Monday, June 2, from 5-7pm at Cimarron Alliance Equality Center, 5613 N. May Avenue, Suite 400. The stoles will be on view at Cimarron Alliance through Friday, June 6. The exhibit will then be displayed on Sunday, June 8, at the 9 and 11am services at Mayflower Community Church and the 6pm service of Cathedral of Hope, both held at 3901 N.W. 63rd St, in Oklahoma City.

Following the service at Cathedral of Hope there will be an opportunity to sign a “community stole” which will then become a permanent part of the collection.

Gayly staff report

The Gayly – June 3, 2014 @ 1pm