The Comeback of Reverend Oliver White

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Reverend Oliver White
Reverend Oliver White

On May 30, 2012, Erin Nanasi, former senior columnist for MadMikesAmerica, wrote a fascinating piece about Reverend Oliver White, a courageous man who supported marriage equality.  Here is an update to that story by Emelina Minero:

A reverend who lost his church after supporting same-sex marriage is back with a program to provide safe spaces for the LGBT community.

In 2012, Reverend Oliver White lost two thirds of his congregation, and then his church, for supporting marriage equality. His congregation members told him that they wouldn’t belong to a church that supports same-sex marriage. Reverend White received letters telling him to renounce his support for same-sex marriage, and even death threats, but he stood firm in his beliefs.

“I knew so many gay and lesbian people as people, and I couldn’t for a 1,000 years imagine why they shouldn’t have the same privileges that heterosexuals have,” Reverend White said.

Reverend White founded an LGBT inclusive church, and he’s still preaching acceptance and inclusivity, but now he’s making it his mission to spread his message beyond his church. He wants to help other churches open their doors to the LGBT community.

Reverend White launched a crowdfunding campaign on Rally.org to turn his dreams into a reality. He

Reverend White embracing members of his congregation
Reverend White embracing members of his congregation

wants to launch programs local to his church relating to youth, employment, senior citizens, food, clothing, the homeless and the LGBT community, and he wants to expand his LGBT Program, Churches for Safe Spaces, similar to the Safe Spaces Campaign in schools, beyond his church.

“We need funding to develop outreach. We need funding to develop a safe place for the gay and lesbian community. We want to become a network so that we can begin to work together and spread this message, spread our work to other churches that are interested in doing the same thing,” Reverend White said.

Through Rally.org, Reverend White has raised close to $24,000 out of the $125,000 goal. He needs your help to hire program directors and to purchase resources to launch these programs and to spread his message of inclusivity across churches throughout the country.

You can get involved in spreading Reverend White’s message of inclusivity by sharing his crowdfunding campaign on Facebook and Twitter, by making a contribution or by becoming a fan fundraiser.

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10 years ago

This man is doing good things. I can think of any number of Christians who should be doing the same. Keep up the great work Reverend White.

Thomas Smith
10 years ago

i did say A LOT black churches reflect the retrograde thinking of america about sex, drugs, rock and roll!!! LOL

Panda72
Reply to  Thomas Smith
10 years ago

I hear you TS. I’m a black man and some of that shit that goes down in the church will curl your hair man, and its already curled. You heaing me?

Admin
10 years ago

That, of course, doesn’t mean the Reverend White fits that profile Thomas. Not all black churches reflect the worst of American thinking.

Thomas Smith
10 years ago

kudos to rev.White but the dirty little secret of a lot of black churches is that they reflect some of the worst of american thinking except in black face instead of white face.

yes, I am a BLACK ATHEIST

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