Examining Whiteness—About the Author

The Rev. Dr. William J. Gardiner

Bill Gardiner develops resources for white Unitarian Universalists to address issues of white racism and white power and privilege.

Bill worked in the Department for Faith in Action at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston, Massachusetts from 1990 till 2004. Bill was co- director with The Rev. Melvin Hoover of the Faith in Action Department. He coordinated many of the Journey toward Wholeness anti-racism initiatives.

Bill was a Jubilee Two trainer in the Unitarian Universalist Association. He led over fifty power analysis of racism trainings. He had an important role in supporting the development of anti-racism transformation teams in the Joseph Priestley District; Annapolis, Maryland; Oakland, California; Longbeach, California; and Brooklyn, New York.

Bill helped develop and coordinate the Social Justice Empowerment Program, which focuses on how Unitarian Universalist congregations can develop effective social justice programs.

For close to a decade Bill served as a member of the Board of Crossroads Anti-racism Organizing and Training.

Bill served as Associate Minister at All Souls Church in Washington, DC. from 1967-1972. He was the minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, Tennessee from 1972- 1980. While in Nashville, he studied for a Doctorate of the Ministry at the Vanderbilt Divinity School. In July of 1980, Bill moved to Philadelphia to begin his ministry at the Unitarian Society of Germantown where he served until December of 1989.

During his ministry Bill worked intensively on the following social justice issues: racial justice, peace and disarmament, housing, community organizing, gender justice, and environmental issues. He has also been an ally for members of the bi-sexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender community.