Randall Miller

Randall Miller, a life-long United Methodist layperson, has worked for the past twenty-five years in a variety of sectors, including academic, philanthropic, religious, and social justice settings. Randall currently holds the position of Director of the Global Religions Program at the Arcus Foundation, which seeks to build and support a worldwide network of pro-LGBT religious leaders and organizations within Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Communities.

Prior to coming to Arcus, Randall was tapped by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund to lead a six-year national grantmaking initiative that invested $9M in faith-based organizations. This movement building effort has been widely credited for cementing the pro-LGBT policies of the Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ as well as ramping up the successful repeal efforts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church USA.

Randall’s other professional experiences include leadership stints at the 1987 March on Washington for LGBT Rights, the Jesse Jackson ’88 Campaign for President, the National Task Force on AID Prevention, the Vanguard Foundation, the Tides Foundation, and the Pacific School of Religion.

A long-time champion of LGBT equality, Randall’s religious advocacy began in earnest in the mid 80’s when he attended his first national meeting of Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian and Gay Concerns and was subsequently elected to its national council and drafted to be one of two national co-spokespersons. In this role, he facilitated meetings that led to the eventual separation of Affirmation and, what was then, the Reconciling Congregrations Program. He also served for four years as an official observer of the denomination’s first official study committee.

Having attended United Methodist General Conferences every four years since 1988, Randall has participated in numerous civil disobedience actions, was formally invited to speak to the gather General Conference three times, and was elected four times to Northern California’s official delegation, including one stint as its head.

Other United Methodist positions have included a two-year tenure as the paid director of the National Youth Ministry Organization at the General Board of Discipleship and voluntary positions on the executive committees of the General Board of Global Ministries, the General Board of Church and Society, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and the Commission on the General Conference. From 2006-2012 Randall was elected to a single term as alternate lay representative to the United Methodist Judicial Council.

Randall holds a PhD in ethics and social theory from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA and currently resides in both New York City and Oakland, California. In 2012, he and, Glenn Eagleson, his partner of twenty-one years (now twenty-six) were legally married.

(This biographical statement provided by Randall Miller.)

Biography Date: April, 2017

Know Randall Miller? Tell us your experience.
(All entries are reviewed by the LGBT-RAN office before posting.)