Jason Haven (March 2, 1733 – May 17, 1803) was the longest serving minister of the First Church and Parish in Dedham.
[1] He believed it granted Americans "civil and religious privileges, equal, or perhaps superior to those enjoyed in any part of the world.
[15][16] He addressed the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company at the election of their officers in 1761[15][11] and preached a sermon before the Great and General Court in 1769.
[1] On the occasion of his 40th anniversary of ordination, he gave a rambling sermon glossed over most of the important events of the previous four decades.
[17] Haven had been called to minister at Old North Church, but the people of Dedham convinced him to stay.
[13] He was also considered for the presidency of Yale College on account of his orthodox theology and for "Neatness dignity and purity of Style [which] surpass those of all that have been mentioned," but was passed over do to his "very Valetudinary and infirm State of Health.
[18] In it, Haven entreated his flock as far as possible, to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; that you may know how good and pleasant it is, for brethren to live together in love and harmony.
We covenant and agree with each other to live together as a band of Christian brethren; to give and receive counsel and reproof with meekness and candor; to submit with a Christian temper to the discipline which the Gospel authorizes the church to administer; and diligently to seek after the will of God, and carefully endeavor to obey all His commandments.
[1] Prior to Haven, the church had very infrequently enforced a provision requiring anyone who had sex with another before marriage to confess the sin before the entire congregation.
[15] In 1781, he preached a sermon condemning fornication and the then-common practice of women sleeping with men who professed their intention to marry.
[15] The sermon was so long and memorable that decades later, in 1827, congregants still remembered the ashamed looks on the faces of those gathered and how uncomfortable many were.