Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Former Klan member is ordained minister

|
|
 
  
Published: Dec. 26, 2009 at 2:50 PM

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A former Ku Klux Klan imperial wizard says he was ordained in San Diego so he could serve the nation's largest black denomination.

Former Klan member Johnny Lee Clary said he was authorized by the Church of God in Christ to take part in the ministry of racial reconciliation and conduct evangelism campaigns, the Tulsa (Okla.) World reported Saturday.

After joining the KKK Youth during his younger years, Clark went on to become the national spokesman for the White Knights of the KKK.

Clary said he began reconsidering his life choices and embraced religion.

The Tulsa World said that new path led Clary to his recent ordainment by the 6 million-member church and a new viewpoint about racism.

"I've learned that good friends come in all colors. I believe I have something to contribute in the area of racial reconciliation. I'm going to spend the rest of my life building bridges and bringing people together," said Clary, who deems racism a cancer on humanity.

Topics: Ku Klux Klan
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 20
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visited in Washington
View Caption
Veterans etch the names of their friends inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War on May 26, 2012 in Washington, DC. More than 58,000 names of the servicemen who were killed or missing in the war are engraved on The Wall. UPI/Pat Benic
fark
Woman recognizes image of God in mixing bowl -- probably because it resembles all the pictures she...
Online petition for Diane Tran has reached 20,000 signatures and almost $30,000 has been raised...
Brain surgeon hides engagement ring in the sand at the beach for his girlfriend to find, then can't...
Submitter needs suggestions for a House Fly home remedy - anyone got something better than this?...
How to select the most appropriate wine by vintage and bouquet for your delicate palate after you...
The rules don't apply: it's the holiday edition of the Mugshot Roundup