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Pastor Emeritus
Entered Eternal Life: November 9, 2005
Bachelor of Science degree from FSU and a Masters Degree of Education
from NYU, he worked for Bache & Co. and Bear Stearns. He received the
‘Outstanding Young Man of America Award’ from the National Jaycees, and
was President of American Gold.
He was called to the ministry in the 80's and began a second career. He
began his studies with Rev. Michael Piazza, Senior Pastor of the Cathedral
of Hope MCC in Dallas, Texas. He then went on to obtain a degree from
Samaritan Institute, the educational arm of the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches in June 1990, and was licensed by
UFMCC. He came to south Florida and began working with the Rt. Rev.
Grant Lynn Ford, Pastor of the Sunshine Cathedral MCC in Fort
Lauderdale, FL. That same year he began a mission outreach effort
through Sunshine Cathedral to found Church of Our Savior MCC in Boca
Raton, now since re-located to Boynton Beach, FL.
Pastor John left Church of Our Savior in 1996 to become the founding
Pastor of New Hope First Community Church in Delray Beach. He served
that congregation until January 2002 when he retired. Upon his retirement,
New Hope named him Pastor Emeritus. As Pastor Emeritus he continued to
participate in the life of the church and would concelebrate Holy
Communion from time to time, attend social events, and maintained close
contact with his flock.
He was a kind and gentle man who made people feel very comfortable.
Pastor John was also an avid boater, musician (played the French horn),
artist, collector of elephant statuary, and art. He also made an excellent
martini admonishing the uninitiated that they should always be “stirred,
not shaken and a Martini has olives, the Gibson has onions.”
He also served as Vice-President of Lesbian and Gay Bands of America.
During his tenure as Vice-President he traveled the country helping to
start bands and participated in helping to form the Flamingo Freedom
Band.
