Reverend NaDine Rawls

Reverend NaDine Rawls, a native of Louisiana, attended public school in the Bossier Parish School system in Plain Dealing, La. She graduated from Plain Dealing High in 1978, and attended Northeast Louisiana University, where she graduated in 1982 with a degree in Law Enforcement.

At an early age, Rev. Rawls was baptized as a member of Hopewell Baptist Church. During her teenage years, she played piano for Sunday School as well as serving as President and musician for the Youth Choir. While attending Northeast La. University of Monroe, Rev. Rawls became the assistant and later the choir director for NLU Interdenominational Ensemble, which traveled throughout the Southern portions of the United States.

Rev. Rawls began her liturgical career at Metropolitan Community Church of Shreveport, serving as the liturgical aid to the pastor. Later, she became the worship leader of MCC of Shreveport until a permanent pastor was named. In 1991, Rev. Rawls relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area to actively pursue her call in the MCC ministry. In 1992, she was ordained deacon of Harvest MCC in Denton, Texas, and in 1993, she became a student clergy candidate. While living in the North Texas region, Rev. Rawls served as co-chair of Ujima, an organization created to serve the African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. She was instrumental in bringing together African-American organization to host the 1996 National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. She was also a member of Umoja Hermanas, a social support organization that served the interest of African-American and Hispanic lesbians in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

God called Rev. Rawls in 1994 out of MCC to join the Unity Fellowship Church Movement. She founded and served as pastor of the Unity Fellowship Church of North Texas from 1995 to 1996 before moving to the Washington, D.C. area.

After moving to Washington in 1997, she joined Inner Light Unity Fellowship Church ministerial staff and served as a member of the Church Council, the Womyn's Ministry, and the Voices of Praise. She also served as a spiritual leader for the Youth and Young Adult Ministry. She was one of the leading organizers of "How I Got Over: Living As a Joyful Art," a day of fun for people living with life-threatening diseases.

In 1999, Rev. Rawls was fully ordained as Reverend within the Unity Fellowship Church Movement. When the call was made for ministers to form Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore, Rev. Rawls answered the call. In November 2000, Rev. Rawls was consecrated and installed as the assistant Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore. During her time there, she has participated in panel discussions around Homosexuality and the Church at Maryland University as well as Morgan State University.

In February 2003, Rev. Rawls resigned her position with Unity Fellowship Church and has begun specializing in Holy Union services to the GLBT community as well as weddings in the African-American tradition.  She is also available to perform house blessings, funerals, memorial services and any other spiritual needs "our community members desire."

Rev. Rawls is in a committed relationship with Rochelle D. Ross Mays. They reside in Greenbelt, MD with their two sons.


Contact Information
Email:  revrawls@handtechisp.com
Phone:  240-401-4972