# Webster Kitchell

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**Webster Lardner Kitchell** (May 21, 1931 – February 9, 2009) was a [Unitarian Universalist](/source/Unitarian_Universalist) theologian and author. He was minister emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe in [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico).

## Education and ministerial career

Kitchell graduated from [Amherst College](/source/Amherst_College) and served as a corporal in the [United States Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) during the [Korean War](/source/Korean_War). Following his discharge, he graduated from [Harvard Divinity School](/source/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](/source/Unitarian_Church_of_All_Souls) in [New York City](/source/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](/source/Billy_Graham) that the only way to reform the [United States](/source/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](/source/Kirkwood,_Missouri). In 1973, he was named minister for the First Unitarian Universalist Church of [Houston, Texas](/source/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

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](/source/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](/source/Native_American_mythology). "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]

## References

1. [Pulpit Aide Installed](https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F70A13FA3A5A177B93C6A8178BD95F438585F9) *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, October 14, 1957 (fee access required)

1. [New Cause Urged As Nation’s Goal](https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F30910FC3D581A7A93C2AB178DD85F448685F9) *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, June 20, 1960 (fee access required)

1. [Men's Retreats Help Them Form Lasting Bonds](http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2074402_ITM) *[Albuquerque Journal](/source/Albuquerque_Journal)*, December 27, 2001 (library card access required)

1. [“God’s Dog:Conversations with Coyote,” Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=q3oCAAAACAAJ&q=Webster+Kitchell)

1. [“Coyote Says: More Conversations With God’s Dog,” Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=pzoMAAAACAAJ&q=Webster+Kitchell)

1. [“Get a God: More Conversations with Coyote,” Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=7W4NAAAACAAJ&q=Webster+Kitchell)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Webster Kitchell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Kitchell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_Kitchell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.