Rev. Dr. Webster Lardner Kitchell (May 21, 1931 – February 9, 2009) was a Unitarian Universalist theologian and author. He was minister emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe in New Mexico.
Education and ministerial career[edit]
Kitchell graduated from Amherst College and served as a corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. Following his discharge, he graduated from Harvard Divinity School in June 1957, and in October of that year he was ordained as an associate minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City. Kitchell was the first associate minister at that church since 1941.[1]
In June 1960, Kitchell attracted attention when he delivered a sermon that argued the national purpose of the U.S. was defined by its role within the international community. "We must have a new ideal to dedicate ourselves to," he told his congregation. "We must fasten our ideals upon the vision of a world community, if not as a political fact, at least a world community in cooperation and spirit." In the same sermon, Kitchell challenged comments made by evangelical leader Billy Graham that the only way to reform the United States was to reform its population, referring to that assertion as "a myth."[2]
Later in 1960, Kitchell left New York to become the first minister for the newly formed Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood, Missouri. In 1973, he was named minister for the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Texas. In 1980, Kitchell became the first ordained minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe, which had operated with a lay fellowship since its founding in 1952.[3]
In 2000, Kitchell became minister emeritus at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe when Stephen Furrer was named minister for the congregation.
Literary career[edit]
Kitchell is the author of three books: God's Dog: Conversations with Coyote (1991),[4] Coyote Says: More Conversations With God's Dog (1996)[5] and Get a God: More Conversations with Coyote (2002)[6] All three books, which were published by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, provide dialogues relating to concepts of faith, philosophy, existentialism and life’s truths as seen through a Unitarian Universalist spectrum. The Coyote character is inspired by American Indian theology. "For Coyote and me, faith means that we have to live our lives as if the cosmos, the planet, life, our fellow creatures, and ourselves are sacred," says Kitchell in Get a God: More Conversations with Coyote. "That is the myth Coyote and I have returned to."[6]
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Webster Lardner Kitchell Age 77, died February 9 of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was minister emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe. Mr. Kitchell was born May 21, 1931, in Newburyport, Mass., and was the son of Francis Robert Kitchell and Jeannette Abbott Kitchell. He was the youngest of four brothers, following Frank, Sam, and Peter. He graduated from Amherst College in 1955 and Harvard Divinity School in 1957. He received his doctorate from Eden Theological Seminary in 1972. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1951. His first position in the ministry was as assistant minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, from 1957 to 1960. Mr. Kitchell then moved to Eliot Chapel in Kirkwood, Mo., for 13 years. From 1973 to 1981 he served as minister at First Unitarian Church in Houston. He continued his trek west by becoming minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe, where he served until 1998. He was known for his sonorous voice and the humor in his sermons. His "Coyote" sermons became a tradition at the church in Santa Fe. Coyote, the "trickster" symbol in Native American mythology, was his fictitious partner whom he met at doughnut shops to discuss current events, matters of theology, and the wonders of life. He wrote three books based on these sermons, including God's Dog: Conversations with Coyote, Get a God!: More Conversations with Coyote, and Coyote Says: More Conversations with God's Dog. He loved cars from his first, a '34 Ford convertible which he got when he was 19, to his last, a convertible Mustang. The list of 26 vehicles he owned included such wonders as a yellow VW Thing, decorated with bumper stickers espousing various liberal causes, and a '41 Plymouth coupe, which was among his favorites. He owned many model cars and set up revolving displays of them. He was also an accomplished amateur photographer who loved to record his family, his parishioners, and the landscape of the American West. Throughout his life he enjoyed camping, backpacking, canoeing, and long road trips. He was preceded in death by his wife of 23 years, Nancy Gay Mottweiler Kitchell. Two previous marriages ended in divorce. He is survived by his children Catherine Kitchell of Chevy Chase, Md., David Kitchell of Seattle, and Benjamin Kitchell of Tigard, Ore. His three stepchildren are John Warner of San Diego, Dana Mottweiler of Oakland, Cal., and Kurt Mottweiler of Portland, Ore. There are three grandchildren and one step-grandchild. He is survived by his companion of the last few years, Nancy Driesbach and his eldest brother, Frank, who resides in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Services will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe at 107 W. Barcelona Road., from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 7th. The Rivera Family of Santa Fe Funeral Options 417 East Rodeo Road Santa Fe, NM 87505, (505) 989-7032 Santafefuneraloption.com
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WEBSTER L. KITCHELL ’53
Webster Kitchell died in Santa Fe, N.M., Feb. 9, 2009, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. Though officially ’53, he left at the end of freshman year for U.S. Marines duty in the Korean War, returning to graduate with the Class of 1955. He was the youngest of five brothers—all of whom graduated from Amherst. His Amherst relatives also included a cousin, a nephew, a grandniece and a grandnephew. Of the five brothers, only Frank Kitchell ’39 survives, still active in the Alpha Delta Phi Society, residing in Seattle and planning to attend his 70th Amherst Reunion this spring.
A philosophy major, Web spent a long career in the ministry and was minister emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sante Fe at his death. He graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1957 and received his doctorate from Eden Theological Seminary in 1972. His first position in the ministry was as assistant minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, serving from 1957 to 1960. He then moved to Eliot Chapel in Kirkwood, Mo., for 13 years. From 1973 to 1981, he was minister at First Unitarian Church in Houston, then continued his trek west to become minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sante Fe, retiring in 1998.
Web Kitchell was known for his sonorous voice and the humor in his sermons. His “Coyote” sermons became a tradition at the church in Sante Fe. Coyote, the “trickster” symbol in Native American mythology, was his fictitious partner for discussions of current events, matters of theology, and the wonders of life. He wrote three books based on these sermons: God’s Dog: Conversations with Coyote, Get a God! . . . More Conversations with Coyote . . . and Coyote Says: More Conversations with God’s Dog.
He also loved cars—from his first, a ’34 Ford convertible to his last, a Mustang convertible. He owned many model cars which he frequently displayed. Web was also an accomplished amateur photographer who loved to record his family, his parishioners and the landscape of the American West. He enjoyed camping, backpacking, canoeing and long road trips.
Web was preceded in death by his wife of 23 years, Nancy Gay Mottweiler Kitchell, with two previous marriages ending in divorce. Besides his brother Frank, he is survived by three children—Catherine, David and Benjamin—plus three stepchildren, three grandchildren and one step-grandchild. He is also survived by Nancy Driesbach, his companion of the last few years. Services were held March 7 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Fe.
—Frank R. Kitchell ’39
—Philip W. Ransom, Jr. ’53
Webster Kitchell died in Santa Fe, N.M., Feb. 9, 2009, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. Though officially ’53, he left at the end of freshman year for U.S. Marines duty in the Korean War, returning to graduate with the Class of 1955. He was the youngest of five brothers—all of whom graduated from Amherst. His Amherst relatives also included a cousin, a nephew, a grandniece and a grandnephew. Of the five brothers, only Frank Kitchell ’39 survives, still active in the Alpha Delta Phi Society, residing in Seattle and planning to attend his 70th Amherst Reunion this spring.
A philosophy major, Web spent a long career in the ministry and was minister emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sante Fe at his death. He graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1957 and received his doctorate from Eden Theological Seminary in 1972. His first position in the ministry was as assistant minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, serving from 1957 to 1960. He then moved to Eliot Chapel in Kirkwood, Mo., for 13 years. From 1973 to 1981, he was minister at First Unitarian Church in Houston, then continued his trek west to become minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sante Fe, retiring in 1998.
Web Kitchell was known for his sonorous voice and the humor in his sermons. His “Coyote” sermons became a tradition at the church in Sante Fe. Coyote, the “trickster” symbol in Native American mythology, was his fictitious partner for discussions of current events, matters of theology, and the wonders of life. He wrote three books based on these sermons: God’s Dog: Conversations with Coyote, Get a God! . . . More Conversations with Coyote . . . and Coyote Says: More Conversations with God’s Dog.
He also loved cars—from his first, a ’34 Ford convertible to his last, a Mustang convertible. He owned many model cars which he frequently displayed. Web was also an accomplished amateur photographer who loved to record his family, his parishioners and the landscape of the American West. He enjoyed camping, backpacking, canoeing and long road trips.
Web was preceded in death by his wife of 23 years, Nancy Gay Mottweiler Kitchell, with two previous marriages ending in divorce. Besides his brother Frank, he is survived by three children—Catherine, David and Benjamin—plus three stepchildren, three grandchildren and one step-grandchild. He is also survived by Nancy Driesbach, his companion of the last few years. Services were held March 7 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Fe.
—Frank R. Kitchell ’39
—Philip W. Ransom, Jr. ’53
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