James Emery White

James Emery White (born December 20, 1961), is an American pastor and author. He is the founding pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a former president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Early life and education

White was born in Chicago and lived in California, Washington, and Utah before moving to North Carolina. White earned a B.S. from Appalachian State University, followed by an M.Div. and Ph.D. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also studied American religious history at Vanderbilt University and attended the Summer Programme in Theology at Oxford University.

Career

White founded Mecklenburg Community Church in the early 1990s. In 2006 it had an average weekly attendance of 3,000, but more recently it reported an attendance of approximately 10,000.

White is the author of more than 20 books, including the Gold Medallion nominees Serious Times and A Search for the Spiritual, Christianity Today book-of-the-year award winner Embracing the Mysterious God, as well as The Prayer God Longs For and Rethinking the Church. His most recent publications include Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians, Meet Generation Z, The Rise of the Nones, The Church in an Age of Crisis, and What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary. He is also Distinguished Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Anderson University, and consulting editor to Leadership Journal.

In 2006, White was appointed president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. However, one year later he resigned, citing personal circumstances.

In November 2009, White signed the Manhattan Declaration, a manifesto opposing the legalization of abortion and same-sex marriage on religious grounds.

Works Books