She was born as Kathleen Merrell Staats on November 25, 1889, to Anna F. and William Staats. Kathleen White was also the granddaughter of Caroline Van Neste Field Garretson, the widow who donated her farm in Somerset County, New Jersey to Bishop Alma White, the founder of the Pillar of Fire Church.
At its peak, the Pillar of Fire had several dozen congregations and operated three radio stations, two colleges, a dozen elementary and secondary schools, and a significant printing operation. The church published at least ten periodicals and nearly 100 different book titles. Over the course of her career with the Pillar of Fire Church she held numerous titles including Financial Agent, Superintendent of Schools, Vice President, and Assistant Superintendent.
Bishop White gave the farm and ensuing community the name of Zarephath, after the Old Testament"s Widow of Zarephath.
Zarephath would eventually become the Pillar of Fire Church"s communal headquarters. Kathleen and Arthur were married in 1914, six years after Kathleen"s grandmother Caroline made the donation of the large farm to Arthur"s mother, Bishop White, in 1908.
Kathleen died on April 1, 1973, in Zarephath, New Jersey. Like her mother-in-law, Kathleen was a strong advocate for women"s equality, especially within the Church"s structure.
According to Susie Stanley, "While many clergy sanctioned a narrow understanding of women"s sphere, Kathleen White of the Pillar of Fire Church found no evidence of divine approval for woman"s sphere." Stanley quotes Kathleen White as writing: "Jesus had nothing to say about woman"s place: Never so far as we know, did He utter a single sentence in abridgement of the domestic, social, or religious privileges of women.
And never by His actions or words did He show any discrimination against them."
Kathleen was also a fervent advocate for temperance. She wrote and lectured extensively on the subject and eventually published a book titled Drunk Stuff. In the preface she wrote:
My personal abhorrence of intoxicants dates back to my childhood.
Not that liquor was ever a personal or family problem, but as a child the dread of an intoxicated man possessed medical
The opportunity to fight this evil came when I dedicated my life to missionary endeavor and preaching in the Pillar of Fire Church.
