On Monday Oct. 20, pastors, worship leaders, and men of faith from Dallas, Smith and Jefferson Counties all gathered for the Freedom Sunday Clergy Luncheon. The event was held at the Inspiring Body of Christ Church in Dallas. Their goal was to strategize how to increase voter turnout from their churches and communities this weekend for Freedom Sunday.
The attendees included: Rev. Bryan Carter, Bishop T. D. Jakes, Rev. Rickie Rush, Rev. Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes Jr., Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, and a host of other supporters and pastors.
Freedom Sunday is an effort to recall the spirit of Freedom Summer fifty years ago. In 1964, Mississippi had the lowest percentage of eligible black voters who were actually registered to vote. This led to a coalition being formed that included CORE, SNCC, NAACP, COFO, and other Civil Rights organizations. Their ranks also included almost 1,000 white college students, northern volunteers and citizens all joining together to register as many eligible black citizens as possible.
In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed and was a direct result of nonprofit organizations, civic-minded organizations, clergy, and churches banning together to make the African-American community heard. Now, fifty years later, several of the same organizations have come together with the same purpose in mind: to increase the amount of registered voters across the country. Freedom Sunday is a non-partisan coordinated statewide initiative with the goal to increase the African–American voter turnout in and throughout the local faith communities.
In Dallas County less than 6 percent of registered Black voters actually stand up and make their voice heard through their vote. That is why the African-American Pastors’ Coalition, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Baptist Ministerial Alliance, New Hope Baptist Church, the Potters House, Inspiring Body of Christ, Antioch Fellowship and many others have joined the Freedom Sunday movement.
During the Freedom Sunday Clergy Luncheon, Rev. Bryan Carter, President of the African American Pastor’s Coalition, explained how important it is for the clergymen to be engaged on the inside of the church, as well as, outside their four walls within the community.
“I am reminded of Matthew Chapter 5:13-16 where Jesus calls us both the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We know that the salt works by permeating, salt is rubbed into the meat and that salt which is rubbed into the meat then preserves that meat from the inside out. At the same time light works on the outside, it illuminates and shows the way,” Rev. Carter shared.
He encouraged the attendees to galvanize other churches and communities and drive their fellow citizens to the polls. He recommended strategies such as taking people with you; using available buses, go with their congregations to the polls to make sure their voices are heard throughout the political halls.
In closing Rev. Carter added, “This 50th Anniversary that marks the freedom movement years ago. We get to capture that energy and excitement again to remember how important it is particularly in our community to make sure we exercise our right to vote… Read More
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