Columns
The Spiritual Essence
The Spiritual Essence
by The Rev. Jane Dwinell
In reflecting on our just-past Gay Pride Month, I would like to share with you the stories of two of our pioneers in faith. The Rev. Eugene Navias and the Rev. Robert Wood were both ordained 50 years ago, both faced their gayness in the repressive atmosphere of our society in the 1950s, and the repressive atmosphere of their denominations. These men had courage in a way that I can hardly fathom, and I thank them.
Gene Navias went into the ministry first as a Universalist and then a Unitarian Universalist, when the two denominations merged in 1961. His work was primarily in the field of Religious Education for children—a field that was, and is, dominated by women. It is also a field that people, even today, are wary of having a gay man involved in. The myth equating gayness and child molestation continues to rear its ugly head. Gene Navias stuck it out and advanced the field impressively.
At the recent General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalists held in Cleveland at the end of June, Gene was chosen by his colleagues in the Class of 1951 to be their choice of spokesperson for the “50 -Year Sermon.” This sermon is given at a worship service mainly attended by religious professionals, and it is one of the greatest honors received from colleagues. I am always moved to tears by the stories and wisdom that come from these people who have managed to minister for 50 years through all the changes our society has seen.
Gene shared his coming out story and his struggles working at the denominational headquarters, when certain co-workers were doing all they could to get rid of the “fag in the RE department.” Gene stuck it out and lived with the tension, oppression, fear, and frustration, all pre-Stonewall, pre-Gay Pride.
While Gene was engaged in his struggle with the Unitarian Universalists, Bob Wood was pastoring churches as a United Church of Christ minister, ordained in Fair Haven, VT. For thirty-five years he was a parish minister and a VA chaplain. The most amazing thing about Bob Wood, though, is the book that he wrote, Christ and the Homosexual, published in 1960. That’s right, 1960!
Christ and the Homosexual received the 1960 Mattachine Award of Merit. Reviews from that time said, “[i]t will assuredly serve as an ideal gift (in some cases perhaps anonymous) from such homosexuals to their priests, pastors and ministers.... the penetrating astuteness of the Rev. Mr. Wood.... as he writes with characteristic wit and humor... deals with this main theme on both the theological level and the level of Christ’s philosophy... Sparkling, intimate, compassionate and well-informed – this book is among other things probably the best and most readable description of gay life currently in print.”
The Rev. Wood recently returned to his ordaining church in Fair Haven to celebrate his 50th anniversary. Knowing that he is a gay man church officials, even today, wanted to see a copy of his sermon in advance. Bob refused, citing “freedom of the pulpit,” a central tenet for both the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalists. Thus, with pride, Bob spoke from the Fair Haven pulpit on June 17, like Gene Navias, giving an overview of his fifty years in the ministry, including his life and work as a gay man.
Those of us who are openly-BGLT clergy should give thanks to pioneers like the Revs. Navias and Wood for paving the way, for taking the risks, and for being at the front of our struggle. Those of us who are BGLT folks in the pews should also give thanks, for pioneers like these have braved the way for denominational programs such as the UU Welcoming Congregation and the UCC Open and Affirming Program, which have opened the dialogue in congregations who wish to put their faith into concrete action by truly being welcoming to all. I give thanks this day for Gene and Bob and all the other queer clergy who put their lives, and careers, on the line so that the faith community and the BGLT community could come together and provide a spiritual home for all.
The Rev. Jane Dwinell serves the First Universalist Parish, a Unitarian Universalist congregation, in Derby Line, VT. She lives with her partner, Sky, and their two children, Dana and Sayer, on the shores of beautiful Lake Memphremagog.