In Memory of Joel D. Baehr (February 16, 1941 – September 22, 2023)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Joel D. Baehr who died on September 22, 2023, at the age of 82.

Joel was born on February 16, 1941, in Chicago, IL to Rev. Karl H. Baehr and Anne Ruth Ediger Baehr. Both his parents were raised in Mennonite families, and Karl was an ordained Congregationalist minister. Joel was an active, inquisitive child who loved and played sports and music. He attended inter-racial, inter-religious summer camps, was active in church youth organizations, and was a leader throughout high school. He sang in the high school choir and learned to play several instruments. At home, Joel was enveloped in the spirit of simplicity. The home was constantly charged with earnest conversation about social, political, and religious concerns.

Joel received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Haverford College, PA in 1962. While in college, he spent summers doing voluntary community service work in Biloxi, MS working largely with poor adolescents and children. This made him realize the realities and obligations of the spirit of love. He began experiencing thoughts in depth. He appreciated the diversity of humanity without disparaging its variety. These experiences, with an analysis of what he enjoyed doing and was good at, convinced him that the ministry was his chosen profession. However, he had difficulty relating to the traditional churches and denominations, both from a theological point of view and from an inability to fit into the structures of some of the denominations.

In 1967, Joel graduated with his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, NY. His attitude and philosophy had moved to the point where he was right in line with the Unitarian Universalist approach to religion and all of life.

Rev. Baehr was ordained by the First Unitarian Church, Rochester, NY on May 14, 1967, where he first served as an associate minister (1967-1969) and then as an associate and acting minister (1969-1970). In 1970, he accepted a call from the UU Congregation in Stamford, CT where he would minister until 1976. While in Stamford, he attended the Westchester Institute for Training and Psychoanalysis and eventually stepped down from his parish ministry to become a pastoral counselor. From 1986 to 1999, he served as an affiliate minister at the Winchester Unitarian Society, MA.

Rev. Baehr assumed leadership in the church, denomination, and District. He served on the UUA Board of Trustees from 1995 to 1999. Likewise, he served the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the UU Buddhist Fellowship.

Joel was a Buddhist practitioner and a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. His professional practice integrated spirituality, psychotherapy, performance coaching, and organizational consulting for over twenty-five years. He studied and practiced with several spiritual teachers including the Quaker, Douglas Steere, the Sufi, Bawa Muhayadeen, and Dzogchen (Tibetan Buddhist) Lama Surya Das. He taught an online course, “Buddhism and Everyday Life,” which enrolled hundreds of students over the years. He was a meditation teacher and board member of the Foundation for Active Compassion. In addition, he served on the board of many organizations including the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston (1983-1991), the Stillpoint Foundation, and held a leadership role at the Dzogchen Foundation, a Tibetan Buddhist Practice Organization. He also served as an organizer for the Rochester Clergy Consultation on Abortion.

In his spare time, he enjoyed motorcycling, travel, gourmet cooking and eating, and music. He loved time spent with his extended family- hiking in the White Mountains in NH.

Joel is survived by daughters: Becky Baehr and Amy Baehr; sister Beth Baehr Bullard and brother-in-law Truman Bullard; grandchildren: Sarah Baehr Schrading, Lilah Baehr Schrading, Karl Basile-Baehr, and Vera Basile-Baehr; and sons-in-law Roger Schrading and Joe Basile. He was preceded in death by his wife Ann.

A celebration of Joel’s life was held on Saturday, February 17th, (2:00-5:00 pm) at the First Parish of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors without Borders.

Notes of condolences may be written here.