Paul M. Abels

ABELS, Paul Milford.  b. Yellow Springs, Ohio, 4 August 1937; d. Rensselaerville, New York, 12 March 1992. An influential and controversial church musician, pastor and arts entrepreneur, Abels attended Drew University, Madison, New Jersey (BA 1959; MDiv 1963), and Union Theological Seminary, New York City (MSM 1965): his thesis was entitled ‘An Ecumenical Manual of Song for Young Churchmen.’ He was ordained in 1963 in the Methodist Church, the first openly gay minister with a congregation in a major Christian denomination in the United States (New York Times obituary, 14 March 1992).  From 1964 to 1969, he worked for the National Council of Churches in areas of youth ministry in the arts,...