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Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs, a lifelong UU who has served in many of the faith’s leadership positions and as a mentor and spiritual director for countless people, has received the 2026 Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism.
One of the most prestigious awards given by the UUA, it is bestowed annually upon someone who, over a considerable period of time, exemplifies what Unitarian Universalism stands for.
Rev. Dr. Clyde Grubbs
“As one of our Native American leaders, drawing from his Texas Cherokee heritage, Rev. Dr. Grubbs has helped Unitarian Universalism deepen its relationship with Indigenous communities and traditions,” John Simmonds, chairperson of the award committee, read from the award citation. “He has been a steady and prophetic voice calling us into the long work of decolonization—inviting us not only to reckon with history, but also to transform our theology, our governance, and our ways of being together. His leadership in advancing the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, a principle in international law that allowed European nations to claim rights over lands they ‘discovered,’ often disregarding the presence of Indigenous peoples, stands as a lasting contribution to our movement’s moral and spiritual integrity.”
Grubbs has served as a minister in a variety of congregational and other settings, including as a co-minister with his wife Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley (who passed away in 2006) and with his partner Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh. Grubbs has guided congregations in the United States and Canada through periods of growth, transition, and transformation, according to the citation.
He is co-founder and past president of Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), where “he helped cultivate a living network of solidarity among Black, Indigenous, and people of color within our faith” and “nurtured leadership, strengthened collective power, and affirmed that our liberation is bound together,” the citation said.
Rev. Marisol Caballero noted that Grubbs has mentored more ministers than anyone she knows and served on nearly every level of UU leadership, both professional and lay, adding, “Your great humor, encyclopedic knowledge of history, and wisdom for long-haul revolution are a blessing.”
Rev. Petra Thombs, a minister of the UU Congregation of Central Nassau, in Garden City, New York, who is of Black and Cherokee heritage, said that Grubbs “taught me the stories, history, and culture I long to know and appreciate.” She said that Grubbs wrote the Action of Immediate Witness at General Assembly 2020 that called on UUs to “Address 400 Years of White Supremacist Colonialism,” which was affirmed by 94 percent of delegates.
Upon receiving the award, Grubbs described his personal journey as a UU. Grubbs was christened in 1942 at the Wollaston Unitarian Church in Massachusetts, and his grandmother took him aside when he was a child to inform him of his Texas Cherokee heritage.
“Being my grandmother’s boy, and becoming my mother’s Unitarian Universalist, were two intersecting currents,” he said, and “moving forward required navigating.”
Grubbs thanked all the UU groups with whom he has worked, including congregations, committees, and DRUUMM. “Together we have seen change, growing awareness, and increased willingness to struggle for beloved community,” he said.