Bob Wolfe

Robert Wolfe was an American clergyman with the Metropolitan Community Church, most noted as the founding pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ^[1]

Previously pastor of the church's congregation in Sacramento, California, ^[2] he was assigned to head up a new Toronto congregation in 1973, and performed his first mass at the Toronto church on July 17, 1973. ^[3]

In January 1974, he became noted for talking a young man out of committing suicide. ^[4] The teenager, distraught over being gay, had climbed onto a beam outside the observation deck at Toronto City Hall and was threatening to jump, ^[5] but Wolfe was called in and successfully counselled the young man back to safety. ^[4] A few weeks later, Toronto City Council presented him with a citation of bravery for his role in defusing the situation. ^[6] He used his acceptance speech to criticize the Toronto Star for its refusal to print an advertisement for the church; ^[6] the reaction to his announcement led the Star to reverse its decision and print the advertisement the following day. ^[7]

Wolfe stepped down as pastor of MCC Toronto in 1978, and was succeeded by Brent Hawkes. ^[8]

References

1. "Metro homosexuals find tolerance growing". Toronto Star , November 7, 1975.
2. "Pastor sees school staying at MCC". The Advocate , December 20, 1972.
3. "MCC Toronto Mission Opens". The Body Politic , Vol. 9 (1973). p. 6.
4. "Youth threatens City Hall jump, fire chief, minister talk him down". The Globe and Mail , January 16, 1974.
5. "Youth talked down from suicide perch". The Advocate , February 13, 1974.
6. "Ad rejected: Pastor airs complaint at council ceremony". The Globe and Mail , February 7, 1974.
7. "Civic Recognition Forces Newspaper to Print Ad". The Body Politic , Vol. 12 (March/April 1974), p. 4.
8. "MCC Conference names new Toronto Pastor". The Body Politic , Jun/Jul78, Issue 44, p8.