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Inventory of the Aubrey Richard Weatherly Collection
GTU 91-12-02
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Title: Aubrey Richard Weatherly collection
Dates: 1971-1991
Collection number: GTU 91-12-02
Collector:
Birchard, Roy
Creator:
Weatherly, Aubrey Richard (Rick)
Collection Size:
4 boxes
1.50 feet
Repository:
The
Graduate Theological Union. Library.
Berkeley, CA 94709
Abstract: Aubrey Richard (Rick)Weatherly, 1952-91, was a pastor in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches and
served in Oakland, California. The collection contains personal and professional files, photographs, slides, negatives, and
buttons relating to his personal and professional life.
Physical location: 4/B/1, 4/B/5
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Aubrey Richard Weatherly collection, GTU 91-12-02. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.
The collection was received in 1991 from Roy Birchard, Executor of the Weatherly estate.
Biography / Administrative History
Aubrey Richard Weatherly, 1952-1991, always went by the name Rick. Born in Hawaii, Rick was baptized and raised Roman Catholic.
Around the age of 14, he realized he was Gay. Living through a difficult adolescence of self-doubt and emotional turmoil,
he was attending a Unitarian Church when he heard that Troy Perry was to visit Washington, D.C. Having heard about Perry and
the Metropolitan Community Church, Rick attended the D.C. church. Here, in 1971 at age 18, he began his journey to self-appreciation,
a renewed faith, and a healthy and happy acceptance of his life in the Gay community. Rick met William Scott Johnson (1943-89)
about 1972. They were joined in holy union in May 1973.
Rick worked as church secretary at the DC-MCC, and was licensed as an Exhorter (lay preacher), 1973-74. Feeling a call to
full-time ministry, he first finished his undergraduate work, receiving his B.A. in Religion from George Washington University
in Washington D.C., 1978. Rick renewed his Exhorter's license in 1979, serving as Worship Coordinator for the Tidewater MCC
in Norfolk, VA before beginning his seminary work. He attended the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, receiving his
Master of Divinity, 1982.
While at PSR, Rick served as staff clergy at the San Francisco MCC, 1979-81. In August 1982, he was called to pastor the New
Life MCC in Oakland, California. He was then ordained as a minister of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches in September 1983. He was a strong advocate for the Gay community, speaking, writing, and serving on committees concerning
various issues. His partner Scott died of AIDS in 1989. Rick died of AIDS in 1991. Their ashes were scattered off a beach
in Hawaii.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection containing personal and professional files, photographs, slides, negatives, and buttons was received in 1991
from Roy Birchard, Executor of the Weatherly estate. The files contain both personal and professional material. The photos
and slides likewise contain shots of people and events that are either personal or pertaining to Weatherly's professional
ministry.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Johnson, W. Scott, 1943-1989.
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches--Clergy.
Gays--Religious life.
Gay Clergy.
Homosexuality--Religious aspects--History--Sources.
Same-sex marriage--United States.
Gay couples--United States.
AIDS (Disease)--Religious aspects--History--Sources.
- Books transferred to the Graduate Theological Union Library Rare Books:
- 1. The Lord is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay, by Troy Perry (Los Angeles: Nash Publishing, 1972). Inscription on flyleaf to "Rick and Scott", signed by the author, 6/17/1973. BR1725 P45 A3 1972
- 2. Don't Be Afraid Anymore, by Troy Perry with Thomas L. P. Swicegood (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990). Inscription on Dedication page to "Rick", signed by the author, 12/4/1990. BX9896 Z8 P47 1990
- Book transferred to the Graduate Theological Union Library circulating books:
- 1. Matlovich: The Good Soldier, by Mike Hippler (Boston: Alyson Publications, 1989). HQ75.8 M38 H57 1989