Born in Jacksonville, Pastor Gundy is a graduate of Troy State University with a BS Degree and hold two Masters Degrees, Masters of Arts in Pastoral Ministries and Master of Divinity.
He is a retired public school teacher, and is also retired from the US Army with two Meritorious Service Awards. He is the recipient of the Congressional Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community award, Jacksonville’s Florida Mayor’s Distinguish Award, Trailblazers Award, Teacher of the Year Award and many other U.S. Army Awards
He is currently the Pastor of the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church and past Jacksonville Local Chapter and State President Florida Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He has 14 years of experience in working with Not-for-Profit organizations specializing in advocacy for Juvenile Justice and Civil Rights issues. He is married to Wallette, they have a son named Andrew and two grandchildren, Darrion and Savia. He is a pastor with 33 years ministerial experience and serves on the Boards of several Not-for-Profit Organizations.
Recently, Pastor Gundy has publicly changed his stance on the need to expand the HRO in Jacksonville. Once a vocal opponent of amending our city’s protections, Pastor Gundy has expressed why it is important to protect the rights of everyone in our community.
It is time for me to write the letter from the “Jacksonville Jail”. It must address the conservative evangelical and black church as a whole:
The history
The harm
The hurt
The healing
The hopeThe LBGT community has a right to be heard, but also others. The voices of change must also respect the voices of resistance. We must also deal with the voices of fear. I see the plan to introduce the law that will address the fears, but that is not what many others see. It is very important that Bible base-believers be heard, along with the others. That did not happen in the first meeting and must not happen hence forth.
I have set on the new ordinance for 18-months that specifically addresses the protection of the church. You cannot blame a culture of resistance based on their Biblical beliefs. My belief is tied deeply with the Bible, as it relates to all matters of sin, and all have and all sin, and all fall short. But, thank God for Jesus, all can be saved and forgiven. Anger and mistrust, on either side, does not allow acceptance, respect, forgiveness and reconciliation.
LBGT issues have divided churches, communities and families. This should not be, there must be honest dialogue, disagreements and forgiveness. The evangelicals must be part of the long-term solutions and we all must love each other, even if we do not agree:
1. The law protects the church.
2. The law protects housing, jobs and public access.
3. The law protects people against discrimination.The conversation is tough but it must be held. Discrimination against any human being is discrimination against all humanity.
Love should not divide, but bring all of us together.
Pastor Reginald Gundy, pens An awakening to what it means not to discriminate, featured in the Orlando Sentinel on February 5, 2016
We Are Allies 