Ken M. White

Ken M. White, who counseled gay men to visualize themselves in the palm of a smiling God’s hand, now rests securely in that Divine hand. A spirited gay man, Ken was a passionate lover of men, faerie godparent to a queer multitude, stander of stones, profligate gardener, a metal sculptor, mental-health advocate, weaver of queer ritual, and conversational explorer of soul and spirit.

Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Dorothy Dean (Chamberlain) White and John Ellis White, Ken spent his youth in Kansas, Wyoming, and Montana, graduating high school from Cut Bank, Montana in 1969. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Rocky Mountain College, Billings, Montana in 1973, and his Master of Arts from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, in 1977. He met the love of his life, John Linscheid, in Kansas in 1983, and their life together spanned Topeka, Kansas, Philadelphia, and finally, Brattleboro, Vermont.

Together with John, he led workshops on gay-male spirituality at Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania, and fashioned a ritual to recognize the spiritual wisdom of gay elders including former priest John McNeill. He was a thirty-year member of Germantown Mennonite Church in Philadelphia, where he supported and helped lead its journey to become a fully LGBTQ-inclusive congregation. Over the years, he was also active in the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests

Vermont had a special place in Ken’s heart, starting with camping trips with John, continuing with rehabbing a bright red cottage near Newfane, and culminating in the purchase of a home in Brattleboro in 2017. There his retirement pursuits included gardening, jewelry-making, metal sculpting, and the quest to explore in conversation with others the depths of gay-male, queer, and even straight spirituality. A lover of people, Ken was always one to bring folks together, whether at Temple University, in his Philadelphia home, his church community, or his Brattleboro neighborhood on Chestnut Hill.

Ken had a multi-faceted professional history. He was a foster parent in San Francisco, California. He was Director of Breakthrough House in Topeka, a multi program agency serving people with serious mental illness. He ministered as student pastor at Topeka’s Metropolitan Community Church. He served as Division Director of Mental Health for COMHAR, Inc. in Philadelphia. He served at Temple University School of Social Administration as Director of the Case Management Institute, Director of Continuing Education and Training, and Coordinator of BSW Admissions and Advising. Ken briefly raised Christmas trees on ten acres of family ground in Kansas. He also was a landlord in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia for twenty years.

Ken’s love for his family, parents, brothers, cousins, and extended relatives gained expression in his research into family history and genealogy.

Ken died from prostate cancer at home on Saturday, January 4, 2025, attended by his partner of 41 years (and husband of 10), John Linscheid, and his little terrier, Chessie. He was 73 years old. His body has died. His spirit journeys with us.

(This biographical statement adapted from White's obituary written by John Linscheid.)

Biography Date: March 2025

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