Wheatly, Robert.

Robert P. Wheatly (September 17, 1919-October 31, 2002) was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He was ordained by the Disciples of Christ in 1941, and became a Unitarian in 1945. Wheatly received a B.A. degree from Stetson University in 1948. From 1949 until 1955, Wheatly served Unitarian churches in Westboro and Lawrence, MA; Manchester, NH; and Jacksonville, FL. He left the ministry in 1955, and from 1955-1956 he taught at the Fenn School for Boys in Concord, New Hampshire. He held a number of positions in the business world from 1956-1967. He attended Harvard Divinity School, and received a B.D. degree from the Crane School of Religion at Tufts University in 1968. From 1967 until 1972 he held a number of positions, including credit and collection for Beth Israel Hospital (1967-1971); field supervisor for the U.S. Census (1970); and fund raiser for the Arlington Street Church (1971). From 1973-1977 he was Executive Director for the Cambridge Council on Aging. In 1979, Wheatly was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry and subsequently served the Unitarian Universalist Church in Medford, MA. Wheatly is known for his work in recognizing gay, lesbian and bisexual concerns and was instrumental in the founding of several gay and lesbian organizations. He started Gays and Lesbians Affirmed (GALA) in 1978, was one of the founders of Prime Timers (a group for older gay men) in 1987, and started Boston Unitarian Universalist Gays and Lesbians (BUUGL). He also served as Director for the Unitarian Universalist Office on Gay and Lesbian Concerns; Executive Secretary for the Unitarian Universalist Committee on Aging; and Associate Director for the Unitarian Universalist Office on Social Responsibility from 1977-1986. Wheatly retired from the UUA in 1987. Wheatly and his life partner, Kenneth J. English, were together for forty-five years until Wheatly’s death in 2002.

From the guide to the Papers, 1919-2001., (Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School)