Local Religious Leaders Navigate the Election

In a time when religion is more entangled with politics than it has been in decades, the election was sure to be mentioned during Sunday sermons across the nation. Places of worship in Pamlico County, NC, were not an exception.

In churches throughout the county, local leaders preached the urgency of the moment, encouraging congregants to perform their duty to vote without stumping for any one candidate, while affirming that their faith would be their “decision-day” guide.

Located in the coastal region of this swing state, Pamlico County hosted mild temperatures, clear skies and a calm much like the steady voices of two well-known local religious leaders: Pastor Albert Almore, from Motion Church, and Bishop Antonio King, of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Altogether, the atmosphere was in steep contrast to the divisive political rhetoric seen on billboard-like signs and cars throughout this remote, red county.

Motion Church in Grantsboro, one of the county’s largest churches, started its succession of services at 8:30 a.m. Pastor Albert Almore, commonly referred to as Pastor AB,  performed his usual walk about the church, greeting members and setting up his headset mic before Sunday service, just two days before the presidential election. 

Pastor AB started his service by thanking the congregation for attending on a beautiful Sunday morning before getting into it:

“If yours are anything like mine, your cell phones’ been blowing up with text messages and emails and all of these things from all the events that is about to transpire this upcoming Tuesday. So we sung a song about it – we put our faith in Jesus.” The crowd echoed Jesus’ name.

Down route 304, in Mesic, Bishop Antonio King of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, a mostly Black church, was getting ready to start his day.

“I'm eager, because I feel like I have a message that will encourage people to vote and to let their voices be heard…and I am on my tiptoes of anticipation of what the Lord is going to do in this service,” he said.

While not giving support to any presidential candidate over the other, King not only encouraged, but urged his congregation to vote, highlighting the history of political violence against African Americans who cast their ballots,  and how their diligence in exercising their right earned them the freedom to do so. 

“God has been good to us,” Bishop King said.“354 years before we were ever eligible to vote, folks died– they were beaten, bruised and still stood… And you got the nerves to say that ‘I ain’t going to vote?’ Vote for what? If your vote was not important, they would have never tried to prevent you from voting,” he continued. “Now is the time. Now is the time.” The church cheered at his sentiments.

King himself voted on Saturday, taking his eight-year-old son with him. 

“I didn’t see any dogs. I didn’t see any police officers with clubs growling at me. I didn’t see any fire hoses or voter intimidation,” he said. “In fact, when I walked in they were very pleasant. I didn’t have to stand outside in the rain for two hours, I walked right on in. I stood in line and nobody skipped me. I waited until my turn and they called me in and I took my ballot and I looked with my son as he watched.”

Pastor AB, whose sermon was largely predicated on the importance of aiding the generations to come, stated that his church stays away from political engagements and instead focuses on God, Jesus Christ and going “beyond the moment.” 

“The same way he [God] lifts up his countenance on the generations that helped us get to where we are today,” he said. “In the midst of political turmoil, COVID-19, racism – all these things that we already went through as a church–may the same God that gave us peace through 2020 give you peace as well. This is what we have to say to our children and their children and pass it on to the generations to come.” 

In both Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and Motion Church, the energy was high on the importance of the moment, without pressuring congregants to be swayed any way, politically.

Before communion in Motion Church, Pastor AB addressed his congregation from the pulpit and preached: “In the days and the weeks to come, God, only you know what’s going to transpire,” he began.“God, that’s your business. Our business is to model your image and your likeness no matter what may unfold.”

On Tuesday, Bishop King said members of his church will be driving people without transportation to polling places. 

Pastor AB said he may hold a prayer service for the nation at some point, but most-likely not tomorrow. He stressed peace and joy during this time, and, in delicate conversations, keeping focus on unity through Jesus. And when it comes time to make that decision, he encourages congregants to follow their faith.

“I always lean towards the Bible,” he said. “I’ll wake up tomorrow and see which way the Lord wants me to follow. Voting is between people and the Lord.”

From Eleazar: My name is Eleazar or "El" for short and I'm a current photojournalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating in December. I'm from a small town in eastern North Carolina named Farmville and I'm passionate about journalism that serves rural and southern communities. 

Growing up as a Black American, the only stories I saw involving people who look like me, were those of others committing crime. I now strive to tell ALL stories, but especially those that have been historically left out of the picture.

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