Subject: John Wolf to preach on his 50th Anniversary at all Souls, Sunday, Sept. 12
John Wolf to preach on his 50th anniversary at All Souls Unitarian
The Rev. John Wolf speaks at a Tulsa school board meeting in March 1968 after then-Superintendent Charles Mason said he did not know what the word integration meant. Wolf, minister emeritus at All Souls Unitarian Church, is being recognized Sunday for serving as a minister at the church for 50 years. (Pictures at the Tulsa World web site:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100911_18_A13_CUTLIN421543&archive=yes
By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Published: 9/11/2010 2:19 AM
The Rev. John Wolf doesn’t define a church by the building, the denomination or the name on the front door.
“My definition of a church, it’s not a matter of what you believe, or your creed, it’s the people and what you mean to each other,” Wolf said, sitting in the quiet sanctuary of All Souls Unitarian Church where he has been on the staff as a minister for 50 years.
Wolf, who retired from full-time ministry more than 15 years ago, is now minister emeritus at the 90-year-old church.
Wolf will preach two services Sunday at All Souls for only the second time since his retirement – to mark his 50th anniversary at the church.
He came to Tulsa in 1960 and soon became a well-known voice amid the furor of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War.
“When we first came (to Tulsa), I didn’t realize how deep South it was, but at the same time it was Southwest and Midwest. There was a remarkable international community, partly because of the oil industry,” Wolf said. “Tulsa was this grand mixture, an amazing place. You found allies in the places you would least expect them.”
Wolf gained national attention in 1968 after Tulsa Public Schools’ then-Superintendent Charles Mason said he didn’t know what integration meant in an attempt to keep it from happening.
From the pulpit, Wolf said any superintendent who didn’t know what the word integration meant was ignorant and shouldn’t hold the position. He gave a similar message at a school board meeting, and several weeks later, Mason resigned.
During that time Wolf also helped organize an interdenominational and inter-racial service at All Souls with 50 clergy members from different religions and denominations participating.
“Tulsa’s clergy really took leadership in the ’60s. Tulsa should be really proud,” he said.
It was a dramatic time in the country and in Tulsa, and Wolf and All Souls were always at the forefront, the Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, All Souls’ senior minister, said.
“All these issues (they fought for), they won,” he said. “Integration happened, women’s rights, reproductive rights. All these issues in their time were so controversial, and the congregation backed them up. These fights had to happen.”
Wolf said the church is still seeking equality and peace today.
“Fifty years, it’s nice to look back and know you won a few,” he said. “We still have moxie.”
In the 1980s, Wolf started broadcasting his sermons on television and helped All Souls grow from about 450 members in 1960 to close to 2,000 today.
Lavanhar came to Tulsa 10 years ago and was familiar with the church and its former leader.
“This church has played an important role in the city, and I was excited to be a part of that history,” he said, adding that it was also intimidating. “I was 31 when I first came. This church has this incredible history and a great orator.”
But Lavanhar said he learned firsthand that Wolf is not only a great speaker but a wonderful minister.
“My wife and I lost a daughter in 2006,” he said. “He came over that night and pastored to me. I got to see what people had been saying for so long. He had the right words at a time when I didn’t know if I could continue.”
That was also the last time Wolf preached at All Souls. because it wasn’t just the Lavanhar family that was grieving but the entire church, he said.
“This is a good church; maybe a great church,” Wolf said. “This is probably the most spiritual place you can imagine. You walk in here, and it just hits you.”
Homecoming Sunday
What: A 50th anniversary celebration for the Rev. John Wolfe
Where: All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria Ave.
When: 10 a.m. Sunday traditional service and 11:30 a.m. contemporary service, with lunch following each service
Online: The services will also be broadcast live via the church’s website
For more: 743-2363 or tulsaworld.com/allsoulschurch
Sara Plummer 581-8465
Read more from this Tulsa World article at
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