In Memory of Rev. Ernest “Ernie” D. Pipes, Jr. (October 6, 1926-February 10, 2021)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Ernest “Ernie” D. Pipes, Jr., who died on February 10, 2021 at the age of 94.
Ernie was born on October 6, 1926 in San Antonio, TX to Ernest D. Pipes and Ora Lemon Pipes. He completed his Freshman and Sophomore years at Rice Institute in Houston where he studied Chemical Engineering. In 1944, due to his chemical engineering training, when he entered the Navy, he was placed in the Fire Control School at the Naval Base in San Diego. He was trained in gunnery Fire Control in both San Diego and Florida. He spent eleven months abroad serving on the Destroyer 558 in the Pacific and was discharged in 1946.
In early 1947, Ernie joined a program of the Unitarian Church in San Antonio, TX. He returned to college to study Philosophy and received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from Trinity University, TX (1949). At this time, he developed quite an interest in social sciences, and did a great deal of work in sociology and economics. In the year or two that followed, he became increasingly aware of the rich possibilities in the work of religious liberalism. The intellectual freedom offered by the Unitarian tradition allied with his active practice of respect for human reason and human dignity. He wanted to contribute to the shared quest for good living. Unitarianism was that established institution in which he could work to achieve ends which were significant to him. In the wake of this call, he entered Harvard University (1949), and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1952.
Rev. Pipes was ordained on June 27, 1951 by the First Unitarian Congregation of San Antonio, TX. Following his ordination, he served as a pastor at the Unitarian Fellowship of the Sabine Area, TX (1951). He then served in parish ministry at the First UU Society of Albany, NY (1952-1956). In 1956, he accepted a call from the UU Community Church of Santa Monica (UUCCSM), CA and served for thirty-five years until 1991. His ministry at Santa Monica stressed diversity and freedom in the congregation and in the pulpit. He counselled women on obtaining safe abortions. He made church an intellectually stimulating community center where diversity of programs and activities were fostered to meet the interest and needs of a wide range of individuals. In 1991, he retired from his active parish ministry. Upon his retirement, UUCCSM honored him as their minister emeritus. Also, in 1991, UUCCSM established an annual lecture series named Ernie Pipes Lecture Series which presents speakers on social justice, religion, philosophy, and other topics of worldly concerns. After retirement, Rev. Pipes continued leading classes and discussion groups for UUCCSM.
Rev. Pipes’ denominational affiliation included serving as a delegate from Mohawk Valley, NY to the Middle Atlantic States Regional Council. For the Pacific Coast Unitarian Council (Regional Board), he served as a member (1959-1962) and as President (1960-1961). Additionally, he served as President of the Council of Liberal Ministers, Los Angeles (1959-1961).
Rev. Pipes was a member of the Citizen’s Committee for Albany, NY Public Schools; National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He provided his services as a Vice-President to the West Los Angeles-Santa Monica Fair Housing Committee (1960-1961), and to the Santa Monica-Bay Area Ministerial Association. He was one of the board members of Sunset Hall, a retirement home for progressive elders started by the Women’s Alliance of the First Unitarian Church in Los Angeles, CA. He taught Philosophy of Religion and Systems of Ethics in the Department of Adult Education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Ernie had great interests in comparative religion and the nature of human consciences. In his spare time, he enjoyed family activities and loved reading. He occasionally published book reviewsin the Journal of Liberal Religion and Frontier Magazine.
Ernie is survived by his children: Bruce, Heather, and Gordon. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Cope Pipes.
A virtual memorial service was held at 1 pm on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Monica, 1260 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404.
My husband and I were married by Rev. Pipes on Dec. 22, 1962. He was very pleased that our marriage lasted because so many others did not. I played the piano at the Church many times. He wrote a letter of recommendation for me. We will truly miss him — a great minister and a great person.
On this Caesar Chavez day, I thought about Ernie Pipes, as he was a part of supporting the unionization of farm workers and Caesar Chavez’s efforts, including using the UU Church as a meeting place. He was clearly an intelligent person, but more important, he was tremendously empathic. My family attended the UU Church in Santa Monica from my childhood until we moved to North San Diego county. When my mother passed away, he presided over the service, his quiet compassion evident during that difficult time so many years ago. When I got married in 2008, Ernie married us, coming out of retirement to do so. He will be missed, but his presence and impact felt by so many.
My wife and I were married on June 9, 1956, the last wedding Ernest Pipes performed in Albany before his departure for California. He could not attend our reception because he was literally catching a plane later that day. Ours may well be the longest lasting marriage he officiated; we’ll be celebrating 69 years next Spring!