Melvin E. Wheatley (May 7, 1915 – March 1, 2009) was a bishop best known for appointing the first openly gay pastor in the United Methodist Church.

[4] During World War II, while in Fresno, he raised eyebrows, when he moved into the home of a Japanese family that had been sent to an internment camp in order to prevent their place from being vandalized.

[1][3] In 1964, while serving as pastor of the Westwood United Methodist Church near the campus of UCLA, he exchanged pulpits with Rev.

White of Holman in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, a Methodist church with a predominantly Black congregation.

Wheatley, who was the bishop of the Rocky Mountain Conference which includes the entire state of Colorado, hoped that a compromise could be reached that would allow Rush to stay at his post.

Prior to the appointment, Wheatley wrote a letter to all of the ministers in the Conference in support of Rush which included the following statement: Homosexuality quite like heterosexuality is neither a virtue nor an accomplishment.

He kept that from happening to me,” Rush, who remained a minister in good standing, told The Los Angeles Times shortly after Wheatley's death.

There has been a huge upheaval since then, which has been very healthy.”[1] Paul Abels Homosexuality and Methodism Gene Leggett LGBT-affirming religious groups Karen Oliveto Reconciling Ministries Network Julian Rush