Rev. Gerry Brague

Gerry Brague likes to say that he grew up Methodist, became a Presbyterian and as a Presbyterian attended a United Church of Christ/American Baptist seminary so that he could be ordained by the Disciples of Christ. With such a history he is more than open to ecumenism and believes strongly in the ecumenical movement.

Gerry was born in 1956 and raised outside the small Northeastern Pennsylvania town of Dallas (predating that other Dallas). He received his B.S.Ed. degree from Virginia Tech and worked for a time as a counselor for emotionally disturbed teenagers. His M.Div. came from Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. It was at Andover Newton that Gerry came out and claimed himself as a gay man. Fortunately, he had been called to a field education placement at a More Light (Presbyterian)/Open and Affirming (UCC) congregation in Boston, Church of the Covenant. It was there at Andover Newton and Church of the Covenant that Gerry began the process of integrating his sexuality with his spirituality and call to ministry. He was surrounded by hosts of supportive folks who held him and urged him onward.

He moved to New York City to be with the love of his life, Allen Foster, and became involved with Park Avenue Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation. When Gerry decided to leave the Presbyterians it was a natural move for him to join the Disciples. Unfortunately, regional politics at the time prevented him from being ordained in that region of the Disciples. So Gerry and Allen moved across country to Northern California so he could pursue his call to ordination.

Once He and Allen settled in San Francisco, Gerry was ordained by the Northern California/Nevada Region of the DOC and First Christian Church of San Jose. Gerry worked at this time as an Associate Conference Minister for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. He also began a long pastorate at Chalice Christian Church in San Carlos.

At Chalice, Gerry was involved in LGBT issues and the congregation annually took part in San Francisco LGBT Pride activities. The congregation actively protested the passage of California’s Proposition 8 and the entire congregation attended Gerry & Allen’s wedding in 2008. In 2001 he was honored by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at Pacific School of Religion as one of their “Leading Voices.” Gerry has also been active in the life of the regional church.

After his time at Chalice came to close, he was called to two congregations in part-time ministries. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of Forest Hill Christian Church (DOC) in San Francisco as well as Associate Minister/Center Manager of Unity Spiritual Center of San Francisco.

(This biographical statement provided by Gerry Brague.)

Biography Date: May, 2011; rev. July 2021

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