During Black History Month in past years I've written about the Rev. Wilbur Howard, the only Black Moderator of our United Church denomination. While Howard was eventually elected to this position of church leadership in 1974 -- 50 years ago -- he was subject to discrimination along the way. He graduated from Emmanuel College in Toronto, my alma mater in the the spring of 1941 along with 19 others.
Because of World War II there was a shortage of ministers across the country yet the 29-year-old Howard couldn't find a pastoral charge that would accept him. In fact, he was in his early fifties before he received a call, although he was employed by the United Church in other capacities. It certainly seems that he was subjected to prejudices, individual and systemic, in a predominantly White denomination, yet he didn't speak about this or complain.
Broadview Magazine published a worthwhile biographical piece about Wilbur Howard six years ago and it mentions that his father and brother worked as railway porters, as did thousands of Black men in this country because of the limited options for employment. His mother was a person of considerable faith who was part of the Methodist church.
I would encourage you to follow this link to the article and learn more about this remarkable man.
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