A white supremacist church with extremist ties.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Non-denominational
Founder: William “Daddy” Rader
Founded: 1968
Ended: 1977
Location: Kaweah, California, United States
The Church at Kaweah, an extreme right-wing fundamentalist Christian group, was founded in 1965 by Warren Lee Campbell and his wife, Margaret, near the southern edge of Sequoia National Park in California. Initially named the Kaweah Community Church, it underwent significant ideological shifts in the mid-1990s under the influence of the Patriot movement. This led Campbell to sever ties with secular authorities, notably rejecting the tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status that U.S. churches typically hold, arguing it compromised the church’s spiritual integrity. In a symbolic gesture in 1997, the church’s property was transferred to “the Lord Jesus Christ,” marking its transition to the Church at Kaweah.
Under the leadership of Warren Lee Campbell, and later his son Warren Mark Campbell, who took over in 2008, the church developed a reputation for its controversial beliefs and practices. It is known for its militant activities, including paramilitary training, and connections to various extremist groups such as militia and Patriot movements, white supremacists, neo-Confederates, and Christian Reconstructionists. The Church at Kaweah has also hosted annual Christian History Conferences, attracting speakers from radical-right backgrounds.
The church promotes several controversial beliefs, including the defense of slavery, opposition to gay rights, and a strict interpretation of biblical passages that critics argue is used to justify such positions. Its practices include encouraging home births, homeschooling, and “covenant marriages” without legal licenses. Additionally, the church has an “Ecclesiastical Mortuary” where members are interred on its own grounds.
In recent years, reports indicate that the church is no longer operating out of California, but has relocated to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, with Warren Mark Campbell continuing to amplify his hate rhetoric. This rhetoric includes Holocaust denial, anti-Semitic claims, and a continued defense of slavery, stating controversial views such as slaves “loved their masters” and presenting figures like Robert E. Lee in a positive light to children.
image via Sierra Nevada Geotourism
