Robert Wolfe was an American clergyman with the

Metropolitan Community Church The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), is an international LGBT-affirming mainline Protestant Christian denomination. There are 222 member congregations in 37 ...

, most noted as the founding pastor of the

Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto The Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto is a congregation of the worldwide Metropolitan Community Church movement located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is a welcoming congregation openly affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual and ...

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada. Previously pastor of the church's congregation in

Sacramento ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, he was assigned to head up a new Toronto congregation in 1973, and performed his first mass at the Toronto church on July 17, 1973. In January 1974, he became noted for talking a young man out of committing

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

."Youth threatens City Hall jump, fire chief, minister talk him down". ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'', January 16, 1974. The teenager, distraught over being

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...

, had climbed onto a beam outside the observation deck at

Toronto City Hall The Toronto City Hall, or New City Hall, is the seat of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. Designed by Viljo Revell and engineered by Hannskarl Bandel, the building opened in ...

and was threatening to jump, but Wolfe was called in and successfully counselled the young man back to safety. A few weeks later,

Toronto City Council Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The current term began on November 15, 2022. Structure The cur ...

presented him with a citation of bravery for his role in defusing the situation."Ad rejected: Pastor airs complaint at council ceremony". ''

'', February 7, 1974. He used his acceptance speech to criticize the ''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

'' for its refusal to print an advertisement for the church; the reaction to his announcement led the ''Star'' to reverse its decision and print the advertisement the following day."Civic Recognition Forces Newspaper to Print Ad". ''

The Body Politic ''The Body Politic'' was a Canadian monthly magazine, which was published from 1971 to 1987.

'', Vol. 12 (March/April 1974), p. 4. Wolfe stepped down as pastor of MCC Toronto in 1978, and was succeeded by

Brent Hawkes Brent Hawkes, (born June 2, 1950) is a Canadians, Canadian clergyman and gay rights activist. Early life and education Hawkes was born in Bath, New Brunswick, Bath, New Brunswick to a Baptist family."Gay rights leader cherishes his New Brunswick ...

."MCC Conference names new Toronto Pastor". ''

The Body Politic ''The Body Politic'' was a Canadian monthly magazine, which was published from 1971 to 1987.

'', Jun/Jul78, Issue 44, p8.

References

2005 deaths Metropolitan Community Church clergy Activists from Toronto American clergy Canadian clergy American LGBT rights activists Canadian LGBT rights activists LGBT people from California Canadian LGBT people People from Sacramento, California 21st-century LGBT people {{US-reli-bio-stub