Believe Out Loud Seeks To Raise $200,000 For LGBT Inclusive Black Church

Believe Out Loud

Last week, Believe Out Loud learned of an African-American pastor, Rev. Oliver G. White, who has long been an advocate for the LGBT community. His voice for equality, however, has not come without high cost. Since voting for marriage equality at the United Church of Christ’s 2005 General Synod, he has lost 3/4 of his congregation, largely due to his prophetic stand on LGBT justice. He has received death threats, hate mail and last March, his church was shot at during a wedding ceremony – the assailants hurling homophobic epithets while shooting.
 
Rev. White’s church, Grace Community United Church of Christ in St. Paul, needs $200,000 to survive. Believe Out Loud is asking you to support Rev. White and Grace UCC in this time of need. Rev. White has long stood with the LGBT community. Today, it is our turn to stand by him.

Following is an open letter to the Believe Out Loud community from Rev. Oliver G. White, Senior Minister, Grace Community United Church of Christ.

Dear Friends,

I am completely unable to find adequate words to express my profound appreciation for the dozens of you who have reached out to me and my congregation in the most loving and caring ways. I am trying to save my church from foreclosure next month, by raising $200,000.

Within the past several months, I have received some media attention because of the great risk I’ve undertaken to affirm same-sex marriages. During most of my ministerial career, I have been an out-front advocate of the GLBT community. I am not gay, however, the risk I have taken may lead to me losing everything I and many others have labored to establish, and that’s simply a church that accepts all people unconditionally, regardless of their sexual orientation.  

I have received a large share of calls, threats, and letters condemning me for standing up for GLBT equality. On March 30, my church was shot at following a wedding. As the men drove by, they hollered obscenities, and said to us, “die faggots.”  

I am afraid, but I will not hesitate to continue to do what I feel is right. I am fueled by the dozens of encouraging letters of support.
 
It may be that we won’t win this battle in terms of the outlook we are striving for. However, if I lose my church standing up for equality, and one person’s mind was changed, then my lost will not be in vain.

I sincerely thank President Obama too, for coming forward in support of this cause. In 2005, he came to the UCC’s General Synod, held in Atlanta, Georgia. I was fortunate enough to be a delegate, and seated on the front row as he spoke. With my camera nearby, I snapped dozens of photographs. Of course, his hair was not quite as gray. It was during that General Synod that I voted in support of same-sex marriages. The fact that he has affirmed same-sex marriages means he’s also taken a great risk. The message I received is sometimes you have to be willing to lose everything in order to free those who are still oppressed in our country.

I thank you, President Obama, for being the role model I need at a most crucial time in my life. If it means I have to lose everything to change one person’s opinion, then my work has not been in vain.

Over the last two weeks, we have received letters of encouragement and small donations from all over the country. Believe Out Loud is also helping us raise money online. To say the least, we are far from our goal, but your gifts are seeds that I believe will blossom into the amazing miracle we need to save our church.

Please help us, if you can.

To give to Grace Community United Church of Christ, click here.

To send a note of thanks and encouragement to Grace Community United Church of Christ, click here.

Thank you for your generous and heartfelt support.