Pillar of Fire Church

Is this the church that once championed the Ku Klux Klan? Here at the Pillar of Fire Church in Los Angeles, a fascinating and complex history unfolds. The Pillar of Fire International, also known as the Pillar of Fire Church, has deep Methodist roots, yet its story is far from typical. Founded in 1901 by Alma Bridwell White in Denver, Colorado, the Pillar of Fire Church sought to revive what its founder saw as a corrupted Methodist Episcopal Church. Alma White, the first ordained woman bishop in the United States, fiercely advocated for women’s rights. The Pillar of Fire echoed this support, even publishing the periodical *Women’s Chains* until 1970. However, a darker chapter intertwined with the church’s history. During the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s, the Pillar of Fire Church openly supported the Ku Klux Klan. This support, unusual for a religious denomination, included promoting the Klan’s ideologies of white supremacy, anti-Catholicism, antisemitism, and nativism. Alma White herself wrote prolifically in support of the Klan, a stance she and the church only partially retracted later. The church even allowed Klan meetings and cross burnings on its properties. However, by the late 20th century, the Pillar of Fire Church underwent a transformation. It has since repeatedly and publicly repudiated its association with the Klan and its hateful ideologies. The modern Pillar of Fire Church strives for inclusivity, welcoming worshippers of diverse backgrounds. It continues its work today, focusing on radio, education, and missions. The Pillar of Fire Church in Los Angeles represents just one branch of this complex organization, which also maintains congregations in places like Denver, Colorado, Zarephath, New Jersey and Cincinnati, Ohio. The church’s name comes from Exodus 13:21–22, referencing the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites through the desert. This beacon of light, symbolic of divine guidance, stands in stark contrast to the darkness of the church’s past. The Pillar of Fire Church’s story is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of faith and the possibility of redemption. It reminds us that history is not static, and even institutions with troubling pasts can strive for a more inclusive and tolerant future.