Dana McLean Greeley
Encyclopedia
Dana McLean Greeley was a Unitarian
minister, the last president of the American Unitarian Association
and, upon its merger with the Universalist Church in America, was the founding president of the Unitarian Universalist Association
.
Greeley received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
degree from Harvard Divinity School
in 1933 and was ordained by his home parish church in Lexington, Massachusetts
. His first two settlements were the Unitarian churches in Lincoln, Massachusetts
(1932-1934) and Concord, New Hampshire
(1934-1935). In 1935, at the age of 27, he was called to the prestigious Arlington Street Church
in Boston where he served until 1958.
After his presidency with the UUA, Rev. Greeley became Visiting Professor of the Church and World Peace at the Meadville Lombard Theological School
in Chicago
and President of the International Association for Religious Freedom
. In 1970 he returned to parish ministry accepting a call from the First Parish in Concord, Massachusetts
where he served until his death in 1986.
During his lifetime Rev. Greeley received many awards, including honorary degrees from Meadville Theological School, Emerson College
, St. Lawrence University
, Tufts University
and Portia Law School
. Additionally, the Concord congregation and his friends and colleagues created in his memory the Dana Greeley Foundation which supports grassroots efforts toward making the world more peaceful.
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister, the last president of the American Unitarian Association
American Unitarian Association
The American Unitarian Association was a religious denomination in the United States and Canada, formed by associated Unitarian congregations in 1825. In 1961, it merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association.According to Mortimer Rowe, the Secretary...
and, upon its merger with the Universalist Church in America, was the founding president of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Association , in full the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in North America, is a liberal religious association of Unitarian Universalist congregations formed by the consolidation in 1961 of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of...
.
Greeley received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
degree from Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
in 1933 and was ordained by his home parish church in Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
. His first two settlements were the Unitarian churches in Lincoln, Massachusetts
Lincoln, Massachusetts
Lincoln is a town in the historic area of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,362 at the 2010 census, including residents of Hanscom Air Force Base that live within town limits...
(1932-1934) and Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
(1934-1935). In 1935, at the age of 27, he was called to the prestigious Arlington Street Church
Arlington Street Church (Boston)
Arlington Street Church is a Unitarian Universalist church located in Boston, Massachusetts. The congregation was founded in 1729 as the "Church of the Presbyterian Strangers", becoming independent in 1787, taking on a Congregational model...
in Boston where he served until 1958.
After his presidency with the UUA, Rev. Greeley became Visiting Professor of the Church and World Peace at the Meadville Lombard Theological School
Meadville Lombard Theological School
The Meadville Lombard Theological School, located in Chicago, is a Unitarian Universalist seminary.It is a result of a merger in the 1930s between a Unitarian and a Universalist institution...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and President of the International Association for Religious Freedom
International Association for Religious Freedom
The International Association for Religious Freedom is a charitable organization that works for religious freedom around the world. It was founded in Boston in 1900 and is the oldest international interfaith group....
. In 1970 he returned to parish ministry accepting a call from the First Parish in Concord, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
where he served until his death in 1986.
During his lifetime Rev. Greeley received many awards, including honorary degrees from Meadville Theological School, Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
and Portia Law School
New England School of Law
New England School of Law is a private law school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1908 as a law school for women.-History:...
. Additionally, the Concord congregation and his friends and colleagues created in his memory the Dana Greeley Foundation which supports grassroots efforts toward making the world more peaceful.