The 2014 recipient of The S. Michael Yasutake Award was the Rev. Rod Reinhart, who received the award at the 177th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago in November.
The Rev. Rod Reinhart was rector of St. Clement’s Church in Harvey, and also served as vicar of St. Joseph and St. Aidan’s Church in Blue Island. He was member of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago since 2004, and in that time he worked on a great many programs and projects in the realm of social justice. Rev. Reinhart’s lifelong and consistent commitment to seeking justice extends beyond any single issue, from war and peace, to labor justice, to the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons in both church and society.
The Rev. Reinhart’s own personal witness as an openly gay clergy person helped lead the way to an Episcopal Church both recognizes those called to ordained ministry regardless of gender or sexual orientation and solemnizes the relationships of couples without regard to the gender of their partners. Fr. Reinhart’s witness also draws the focus of the church to the local injustices that mark our lives, the poverty, inequality, racism, and environmental degradation that mark this city and this state. The Rev. Reinhart died in November of 2015.