Clergy members host “Get the Vote Out” event, encourage all souls to the polls
Baltimore clergy and community leaders gathered at New Shiloh Baptist Church to emphasize the importance of voting and encourage churches to support voting efforts, with Rev. Jerome Stephens leading the event. The post Clergy members host “Get the Vote Out” event, encourage all souls to the polls appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
Black News 
By Makayla Walker
AFRO Intern
On June 15, Baltimore clergy and community leaders gathered at New Shiloh Baptist Church in West Baltimore to emphasize the importance of voting. The event was led by Rev. Jerome Stephens, associate minister at New Shiloh Baptist Church.
Credit: AFRO Photo / Andrew Hall
Before the press conference began, Rev. Walter Scott Thomas Jr., pastor of New Psalmist Baptist Church, set the town of the event with a word of prayer and a call to action.
“We’re facing a dangerous reality. Our future generations could be living in a world with fewer rights than we have today,” he said. “We’re now taking up the burden that was carried for those who came before us, that the next generation–born and yet unborn–will be able to live in a land of true life, liberty, freedom and happiness.”
Rev. Thomas’ remarks were echoed by other clergy members who believe in the importance of voting, understand the current political climate and support the efforts of activists looking to pave the way for this generation of voters.
C. Anthony Hunt, pastor of Epworth Chapel, highlighted the divine purpose of voting, urging citizens to engage, register and mobilize. He quoted the late John Lewis who said “the vote is almost sacred.”
Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, pastor emeritus of Freedom Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church and CEO of the AFRO, stressed the significance of early voting and minimizing regrets.
“I think people understand that if you want to minimize your regrets, you have to exercise the privilege and the right that we have to go to the polls,” said Draper. “People are still expressing regret over what happened in 2024 and a lot of people who are doing that did not bother to go to the polls thinking that their votes would not count.”
“Votes matter, participation matters and so we encourage every single person, even if you are not sure that you’re able to vote–vote anyway,” said the AFRO publisher.
Rev. Brent Brown, pastor of the Greater Harvest Baptist Church, encouraged millennial pastors to mobilize their congregations.
“I want to simply challenge every millennial pastor to encourage their congregation, their groups, their institutions, every person they are attached to, to get out to vote at Greater Harvest,” said Brown.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for churches to support voting efforts. Rev. Jerome Stephens spoke to why voting is so important.
“We really would like for everyone to get out the vote, people are trying to set what we have accomplished back and turn back the clock, but the vote has always been sacred, and it also has been our spiritual and moral obligation to get out the vote,”said Rev. Stephens
The clergy members encouraged church members to volunteer at polling places during upcoming primary and general elections. They also prompted their fellow pastors to deploy church vans and other available transportation to assist community members in getting to early voting locations and polling places. They even suggested coordinating with funeral homes in the Baltimore community to provide transportation for seniors and others without rides to voting locations and polling places.
Rev. Dr. Brian Murray, senior pastor at New Covenant Community United Church of Christ, said voter apathy and misinformation should be addressed because that is “the secret weaponry of the other side.”
Rev. Murray said voting has many implications. As a former jury foreman he’s seen many cases where the jury is not reflective of the defendant, because there are not enough people registered to vote. He highlights the necessity of involving unchurched people, especially Black men, at polling sites to counter intimidation and ensure jury pool diversity.
C. Anthony Hunt, stressed the importance of voter education beyond registration. He said local church-based initiatives should work to inform voters so they make an educated choice on their ballots.
He encouraged community leaders to “use every mechanism have to galvanize around great information,” so that voters choose the right candidates.
“It’s not enough just to vote,” said Hunt. “To vote right–that’s the key.”
The post Clergy members host “Get the Vote Out” event, encourage all souls to the polls appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
