Earle White -- Over Fifty Years of Activism!

Earle White became involved with Americans United in the mid 1950's, a time when the idea of supporting private and religious schools with tax money was being hotly debated. A meeting on the issue was held at Portland’s Civic Auditorium (Now Keller Auditorium). Glenn Archer, AU’s first executive director and Stanley Lowell spoke to a packed house!

At that time Earle White was a young attorney. He filed the papers to form Oregonians United for Separation of Church and State and affiliated with the national organization.

Photo by Dan Domenigoni

In 1957, a law was passed in Oregon that would use tax money for textbooks for private and religious schools. The law was challenged as a violation of church/state separation and headed to the Oregon Supreme Court. Earle asked AU for help and they arranged for Leo Pfeiffer, the General Council of the American Jewish Congress to take the case. The law was struck down.

Over the years, the legal climate changed as the courts decided more cases in support of church/state separation and Oregonians United for Separation of Church and State declined.

More recently, Earle learned about the Columbia Chapter and, at the age of 91, began attending chapter meetings. In the summer of 2007, the Rev. Berry Lynn was scheduled to speak in Portland, so Earle arranged for us to hold the event at the First Baptist Church where he has been an active member for several decades.

Evolution vs. Creationism

Religion in the Public Schools

Vouchers / Religious School Funding

Marriage & Family Life

Religious Symbols on Public Property

Religious Right Research

Religion in Public Life

Church Electioneering

Free Exercise of Religion

'Faith-Based' Initiatives / Taxpayer Funded Religious Discrimination