He served as pastor from 1973 to 1984 of the Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church in the Greenwich Village area of New York City.

[1][3] He received a Master of Sacred Music degree from United Theological Seminary in 1965 following approval of his thesis entitled An Ecumenical Manual of Song for Young Churchmen.

[2] From 1964 to 1969, Abels worked for the National Council of Churches (NCC) in New York City, initially as a program assistant in youth ministry, and later as director for the arts.

[2][7] Abels was appointed pastor of Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church in 1973,[2][7] a year after having joined the congregation.

[8] One of the most progressive congregations in Manhattan, it was often called the "Peace Church" as it was well known for its anti-war activism, particularly during the Vietnam War.

[8][10][11][12] The first openly gay minister with a congregation in a major Christian denomination in the United States,[7] Abels said that his having come out was met with little disapproval at the time.

[13] Leaders of Good News, a conservative evangelical Methodist group, called for Ward's resignation after he was unsuccessful in dismissing Abels.

[2][22][23] He moved to Rensselaerville, New York, with Thom Hunt, his partner of approximately six years, where they restored Catalpa House and opened it as a bed and breakfast.