Birchard, Roy

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, CA. 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 contracted AIDS as well and died in 1991. Their ashes were scattered off a beach in Hawaii.

From the guide to the Aubrey Richard Weatherly collection, 1971-1991, (The Graduate Theological Union. Library.)