Reverend Daniel E. Smith Papers
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Scope and Contents
The collection is comprised largely of materials related to Smith's 35+ years as the pastor of the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (WHPC) (later the West Hollywood United Church of Christ) and his advocacy and activism both within and without the church. The materials document Smith's work as a pastor for the church, and his work within the larger Presbyterian Church to advocate for greater inclusion and ministry for LGBTQ+ Christians, especially regarding persons with HIV/AIDS. The collection also includes documentation of the WHPC's separation from the Presbyterian Church and decision to join the United Church of Christ.
Materials in the collection include administrative records, sermons, programs, correspondence, books, studies, publications, and ephemera.
Dates
- Creation: 1970-2018
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Biographical Note
Reverend Dan Smith is a retired pastor with the United Church of Christ and an LGBTQ+ rights activist. Reverend Smith attended Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, after which he joined the Presbyterian Church. He served for six years as an Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Geneva, New York before coming to Los Angeles. In 1984, Smith became the first openly gay pastor at the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church, serving a predominantly LGBTQ+ congregation.
Smith was active within the Presbyterian Church, advocating for acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ+ Christians, as well as ministry for persons with HIV/AIDS and marriage equality. He served on the Presbyterian Church’s “Special committee to Study Human Sexuality” and was one of the major contributors to the committee’s report, “Keeping Body and Soul Together: Sexuality, Spirituality and Social Justice (1991).”
He is a cofounder of the Los Angeles GLBT Interfaith Clergy Association and was one of the first religious leaders in Los Angeles to provide spiritual care and support to persons with HIV/AIDS.
In 2012, Smith led the congregation through its separation with the Presbyterian Church over its anti-gay views. The church joined the United CHurch of Christ and Smith was ordained as a pastor in the UCC. Smith served as pastor for another 8 years before retiring in February 2020.
https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/dan-smith
Historical Note
The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (WHPC) was founded in 1913 as part of the Presbyterian Church. The church has long been known for its progressive position and its advocacy and activism for the LGBTQ+ community.
As early as 1964, the church had established special services and meeting groups for the gay community in West Hollywood. They ran a long-time program called the Lazarus Project to campaign for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ Christians.
In 1984, the church selected Reverend Dan Smith as full-time pastor, making him one of the first openly gay pastors serving a majority gay and lesbian congregation in the Presbyterian Church.
In 2012, because of conflicts over anti-gay positions held by the Presbyterian Church, the WHPC congregation unanimously voted to leave the Presbyterian Church after 99 years and join the United Church of Christ. The church continues to serve the LGBTQ+ community of West Hollywood and Los Angeles today.
References:
https://wehoucc.org/history/
https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org/profiles/dan-smith
Extent
6.25 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Reverend Dan Smith is a pastor and LGBTQ+ activist. The collection is comprised largely of materials related to Smith's 35+ years as the pastor of the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church (later the West Hollywood United Church of Christ) and his advocacy and activism both within and without the church. The collection includes administrative records, sermons, programs, correspondence, publications, and ephemera.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series. Series 1: West Hollywood Presbyterian Church; Series 2: United Presbyterian Church; Series 3: Daniel Smith Papers; Series 4: LGBTQ+ Issues and Activism.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Rev. Daniel E. Smith, February 2020.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Beth McDonald, 2023.
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Finding aid to the Reverend Daniel E. Smith Papers, 1970-2018.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Beth McDonald
- Date
- © 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, University of Southern California Repository
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles California 90007 United States
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu