Former KKK Imperial Wizard Now an Ordained Minister in Largest African-American Congregation

Teresa Neumann : Dec 29, 2009
Bill Sherman - Tulsa World

"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."

(Tulsa, Oklahoma)—Johnny Lee Clary, once an imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, was recently ordained a minister of Church of God in Christ, the largest black denomination in America. (Photo: TulsaWorld.com)

Bishop George D. McKinney, who ordained him, was quoted as saying Clary has been authorized to conduct evangelism campaigns and to engage in the ministry of racial reconciliation.

As reported in Tulsa World, Clary called racism a cancer on the human race and said, "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."

"Unable to keep a job because of his Klan history, depressed and broke, he decided to commit suicide," the report notes, Clary put one bullet in his gun.

"I saw a Bible sitting there," said Clary, "and thought maybe I could get forgiveness before I killed myself."

But, by the time the night was over and he had read a part of the Bible, he reportedly made a decision to follow Christ.

According to the report, McKinney believes Clary's ordination into the black denomination is reminiscent of the early days of U.S. Pentecostalism. "Whites, blacks and browns worshipped together," he said. "They said the color line was washed away in the Blood of Jesus."

Read Clary's testimony in full by clicking on the link provided.