Melvin E. Wheatley

Melvin E. Wheatley (May 7, 1915 – March 1, 2009) was a bishop best known for appointing the first openly gay pastor in the United Methodist Church.

Biography Background Wheatley was born in Lewisville, Pennsylvania, the son and grandson of Methodist ministers.

Education Wheatley was an honor student at American University in Washington, DC with a major in religion. In his senior year, he was the president of the Student Council, the Student Christian Association, and the captain of a basketball team.

He went on to earn a divinity degree at Drew University in New Jersey.

Early career While at Drew, Wheatley served as an assistant instructor in the department of Biblical literature. He also taught philosophy for one semester at Modesto Junior College.

After graduating from Drew in 1939, Wheatley's first pulpit assignment was in Lincoln, Delaware. Three years later, he served as associate pastor of First Methodist Church in Fresno, California.

In 1984, Wheatley retired to Laguna Woods in Orange County, California.

Personal life He married Lucile Maris in June 1939. His wife was a vocalist that sang with various church choirs. This union produced three sons. His son John came out as gay to the family in 1973.

Death Wheatley died March 1, 2009, in Mission Viejo, California, after a long illness. He was survived by his wife, sons Paul and James, and three grandchildren. John died of melanoma in 1984.

“So many gay men and women who have been ministers in the church were in essence thrown under the bus. He kept that from happening to me,” Rush, who remained a minister in good standing, told The Los Angeles Times shortly after Wheatley's death. “He really pushed the bishops in the church to start reevaluating. There has been a huge upheaval since then, which has been very healthy.”