Rachel Small Stokes
Stole Text
Rachel Small Stokes
United Methodist Church
Rachel began her life in the United Methodist Church, and felt called by God to the ministry at age thirteen. She served in leadership and chaplaincy positions through high school and college, and preached several times for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Wesley Foundation. Her gifts for ministry were highly affirmed, and after college she accepted a call to become a United Methodist US-2 Missionary.
During that time, she also became more and more aware that she was a lesbian. After her mission service, she went to the UMC seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and prepared herself to become a closeted clergywoman. However, as she saw the anger, rancor and hate in the upper echelons of her beloved denomination, that choice became untenable. She eventually made the very difficult decision to leave the United Methodist Church and to join the United Church of Christ, a denomination that welcomed her and many others with open arms. Hers is a story with a happy ending for everyone but the UMC. She was ordained in the UCC in 2009, and married her partner of seven years in 2012.
United Methodist Church
Rachel began her life in the United Methodist Church, and felt called by God to the ministry at age thirteen. She served in leadership and chaplaincy positions through high school and college, and preached several times for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Wesley Foundation. Her gifts for ministry were highly affirmed, and after college she accepted a call to become a United Methodist US-2 Missionary.
During that time, she also became more and more aware that she was a lesbian. After her mission service, she went to the UMC seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and prepared herself to become a closeted clergywoman. However, as she saw the anger, rancor and hate in the upper echelons of her beloved denomination, that choice became untenable. She eventually made the very difficult decision to leave the United Methodist Church and to join the United Church of Christ, a denomination that welcomed her and many others with open arms. Hers is a story with a happy ending for everyone but the UMC. She was ordained in the UCC in 2009, and married her partner of seven years in 2012.
Contribution Story
The stoles for Rachel Small Stokes and Mark Gruber were made and donated by Mandi Janis.
Archival Record
Stole Number: 1153
Honoree(s): Rachel Small Stokes
Donor(s): Mandi Janis
Geography: Unknown, (USA)
Faith Tradition: United Church of Christ
Donation Date: 2012
Citation
“Rachel Small Stokes,” LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, accessed April 24, 2024, https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/items/show/1056.