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Wiley Drake
Wiley S. Drake (November 23, 1943 – January 27, 2026) was an American minister and radio host based in California. He was the vice-presidential candidate for the America's Party ticket in California in 2008. Drake drew controversy for his use of imprecatory prayer. He was the pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park in Buena Park, California.
Drake grew up in Magnolia, Arkansas. He spent much of his time with his grandfather, Hamp Smead Beasley, a horse trader who took him to revival meetings. After winning a rodeo purse at 14, he joined the rodeo circuit. He joined the Navy at 17 and served on the Kitty Hawk.
Drake died in Buena Park on January 27, 2026, at the age of 82.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Drake clashed with officials of the city of Buena Park when he "turned his church parking lot and a church recreation building into a makeshift homeless shelter...", housing groups of homeless persons for months at a time. This activity led to his conviction in July 1997 of violation of building and property usage codes.
Drake wrote the resolution at the Southern Baptist Convention in 1996 calling for a boycott of the Walt Disney Company over its decision to "promote homosexuality over family values" by granting health benefits to gay and lesbian partners of employees. At that time, Drake described homosexuality as "abnormal, biologically unhealthy, as well as contrary to Bible teachings." Drake later protested an unofficial "Gay Day" celebration held at Disneyland in 1998.
He campaigned against the appointment of a gay man, former University of Chicago dean James Hormel, as ambassador to Luxembourg. "We need to speak out and say we do not want an avowed homosexual to represent the U.S," Drake said in 1997.
In early 2008, Drake, the pastor for the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, was a vocal supporter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign. He sent out a letter personally endorsing Huckabee. Because the letter was on church stationery, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began investigating Drake for possibly endorsing a political candidate as a church leader, because electioneering by churches is forbidden as a condition for churches' tax-exempt status.
Drake's possible violation of federal tax law was reported to the IRS by an advocacy group called Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU). Drake called on supporters to use imprecatory prayer to pray for the punishment and even deaths of certain AU members, drawing controversy.
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Wiley Drake
Wiley S. Drake (November 23, 1943 – January 27, 2026) was an American minister and radio host based in California. He was the vice-presidential candidate for the America's Party ticket in California in 2008. Drake drew controversy for his use of imprecatory prayer. He was the pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park in Buena Park, California.
Drake grew up in Magnolia, Arkansas. He spent much of his time with his grandfather, Hamp Smead Beasley, a horse trader who took him to revival meetings. After winning a rodeo purse at 14, he joined the rodeo circuit. He joined the Navy at 17 and served on the Kitty Hawk.
Drake died in Buena Park on January 27, 2026, at the age of 82.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Drake clashed with officials of the city of Buena Park when he "turned his church parking lot and a church recreation building into a makeshift homeless shelter...", housing groups of homeless persons for months at a time. This activity led to his conviction in July 1997 of violation of building and property usage codes.
Drake wrote the resolution at the Southern Baptist Convention in 1996 calling for a boycott of the Walt Disney Company over its decision to "promote homosexuality over family values" by granting health benefits to gay and lesbian partners of employees. At that time, Drake described homosexuality as "abnormal, biologically unhealthy, as well as contrary to Bible teachings." Drake later protested an unofficial "Gay Day" celebration held at Disneyland in 1998.
He campaigned against the appointment of a gay man, former University of Chicago dean James Hormel, as ambassador to Luxembourg. "We need to speak out and say we do not want an avowed homosexual to represent the U.S," Drake said in 1997.
In early 2008, Drake, the pastor for the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, was a vocal supporter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign. He sent out a letter personally endorsing Huckabee. Because the letter was on church stationery, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began investigating Drake for possibly endorsing a political candidate as a church leader, because electioneering by churches is forbidden as a condition for churches' tax-exempt status.
Drake's possible violation of federal tax law was reported to the IRS by an advocacy group called Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU). Drake called on supporters to use imprecatory prayer to pray for the punishment and even deaths of certain AU members, drawing controversy.