Carl Thitchener

I’ve just learned that the Reverend Carl Thitchener has died. Carl was a respected colleague and he will be missed.

First, here is a reflection by Carl on heresy, a favorite theme of Unitarian Universalists…

Rev. Carl Thitchener talks about the meaning of”heresy”– choosing what to believe — in the tradition of Unitarian Universalist religious thought. Also an interview with Dan Brigham about UU churches.

Finally, here is a brief biographical sketch provided by the Reverend Jory Agate at the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Mr. Thitchener was born on March 31, 1932 in Rochester, NY to Charles P. and Dorothy M. Thitchener. He received a B.S. degree in Speech from Northwestern University in 1953. After a successful business career where he was a pioneer in the early microfilm information retrieval industry, he transitioned to ministry. He earned an M. Div. degree from Starr King School for the Ministry in 1980.

Ordination took place at the First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY on May, 18, 1980, where Mr. Thitchener had been an active layperson for more than 20 years. His activities as layperson included teaching in the church school, chairing the annual fund drive, advising the youth group, and serving on the Board of Trustees. In 1981, he was called to serve the UU Church of Amherst in Williamsville, NY. He was joined there as co-minister, by his wife, the Reverend Maureen Thitchener, in 1991. Their ministry continued until 2003 when they were honored as Ministers Emeriti. Mr. Thitchener also served congregations in Fairfax, VA, Rochester, NY, and Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada. At the time of his death, Mr. Thitchener was co-minister with his wife of the UU Church of Canandaigua, NY.

Mr. Thitchener served the denomination in many roles. From 1993 to 2000 he served as Secretary to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Board of Trustees. He also served on the Boards of Trustees of the Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries and of the Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley, CA. Additionally, he served on the Executive Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Association and as President of the St. Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Maureen Quinlan Thitchener, their children Karyn Taylor and her husband Alan, Lynn Thitchener, Susan Levine and her husband Jeff, and Michael Carl Thitchener. He also leaves two granddaughters, Tegan Thitchener Kehoe and Kelley Levine.