Draft:Ebenezer Gay

Ebenezer Gay (1696–1787) was a Congregationalist minister and a main figure in the emergence of American Unitarianism during the time of the New England Colonies.

Early life and education
Ebenezer Gay was on August 15, 1696, in Dedham, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel and Lydia Gay, he graduated from Harvard College in 1714. After teaching in various towns, Gay pursued theology and was ordained as pastor of the church in Hingham on June 11, 1718.

Ministry in Hingham
Gay served as pastor of the church in Hingham for nearly seven decades, from 1718 until his death in 1787. Known for his scholarship and preaching, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Harvard College in 1785. Gay's ministry was characterized by his association with other liberal Congregationalists, including Jonathan Mayhew and Charles Chauncy, whom he admired.

Role in American Unitarianism
Ebenezer Gay has been called "the father of American Unitarianism". Despite spending his life among Congregational ministers, he advocated for rational religion and opposed strict Calvinism. Gay emphasized the role of Christ in salvation but preached against mob violence during the American Revolution. He maintained popularity despite differing political views and was known for taking unpopular stands.

Legacy
Ebenezer Gay's legacy is complex and multifaceted. As a prominent Congregationalist minister, he played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of colonial America, particularly in advocating for rational religion and opposing strict Calvinism. His association with other liberal Congregationalists and his willingness to take unpopular stands contributed to the emergence of American Unitarianism. However, his lack of enthusiasm towards the American Revolution and adherence to Tory sentiments during the Revolutionary period raise questions about his political stance and its implications for his legacy. Despite these complexities, Gay's influence on religious thought and practice in New England cannot be denied, and his impact reverberates through the history of American theology.