Pioneering minister the Rev. Grant Gallup passed away Nov. 26 of heart failure. He was 77.
According to Louie Crew (queereye4lectionary.blogspot.com), Gallup was a charter member of Integrity’s first chapter, in Chicago, and served as chaplain to that chapter. For several years in the 1970s and ’80s, Gallup edited Integrity Forum. For many years he was vicar of St. Andrew’s on the near West Side of Chicago, and since about 1988 he had been a missioner in Managua, Nicaragua, where he founded Casa Maria.
Gallup wrote frequently for The Witness and other progressive journals.
In 1976 he was president of the Episcopal liturgists association. His liturgical reflections, Homily Grits (2000-2007; andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/homilygrits/index.html) remains very popular.
Gallup was known affectionately by his close friends as Sister Mary Rattle Beads, and rattle them he did. He was one of the first out priests in the USA, speaking on the Studs Terkel radio program.
Crew added, “I remember asking Grant how those at St. Andrew’s were dealing with his openness. [Gallup said,] ‘The same way I deal with theirs.’ When someone’s son was arrested for using crack, Grant was there to help the family cope. When someone needed groceries to make it to the end of the month, Grant was there for them. His larder was never empty. On some days half the block seemed to show up in his dining room for a meal. He had the gift of endless, joyful hospitality. He kept polished the silverware.
Few people have influenced me as much as Grant. I loved him dearly. He taught me much about justice and about courage. He was a strong friend when I had few. He constantly pointed me to gospel imperatives.He eschewed pettiness.”