Born in Philadelphia, Conard Rheiner was ordained into the Universalist ministry following his graduation from Tufts University in 1928. Conard continued to lead and further the Unitarian Universalist cause until his death in 1987. He served churches in Massachusetts, Iowa, Maine and Denver, Colorado. His life was deeply concerned with the never-ending struggle for justice and peace. As just one example, in his early ministerial work, he was threatened, blindfolded, and kidnapped because he defended members of his church who had organized a labor strike at a local plant!. He was outspoken, sensitive and compassionate.

It was in Chicago in the 1940s and early 1950s that Conard decided to make social work his life career, social work as embodied in settlement houses and neighborhood centers.  He and Anne, his wife of nearly sixty years, eventually settled in the Bay Area. They were also founding members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in San Mateo.

His sense of values and integrity were a model for, among others, Elaine Mikels, who said, "I couldn't have found a better person to work for than Conard Rheiner, a kind and gentle man who had been the minister of several Unitarian churches … and director of the Center for the Blind in Seattle, Washington."

Elaine, an early “out” Lesbian, met Conard during their association with the Mission Neighborhood Centers. When she created the first "halfway" house in San Francisco, she named it “Conard House” in honor of his accomplishments, leadership and most especially because of his influence on the fearless, politically radical activist she was becoming. Conard House continues its work in San Francisco’s Mission District. At the core of Conard House’s mission to Empower People and Restore Hope.