“God is shining down on Koinonia today,” shouted Bishop Rosie O’neal during the worship service on Sunday (Oct. 13) at Koinonia Christian Center, a predominately Black church in Greenville, North Carolina.
What sparked O’neal’s declaration? The fact that Vice President Kamala Harris and former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton were present. A few moments later, O’neal turned the pulpit over to Harris, who took the stage to a standing ovation. But first, the pastor told her congregants about the need to pay attention to the candidates, their records, and their policies to make good voting decisions. Then after reminding people they are there to lift up Jesus, she added they could still join her in cheering for Harris.
“I know there’s still a joy down in your spirit that will help me honor this phenomenal servant of God. I believe a tremendous leader,” O’neal said. “Help me celebrate Kamala Harris.”
Harris spoke for 10 minutes in remarks frequently punctuated by applause and cheers. She talked about her faith and the efforts in North Carolina to rebuild after Hurricane Helene. She said that “faith is a verb,” quoted multiple Bible verses, and referenced her pastor and church. But she also worked in attacks on those who are spreading disinformation about the hurricane relief efforts. Although she didn’t name who was doing this, it was clear she was attacking Donald Trump and other Republicans for “lying” to “gain some advantage for themselves, to play politics with other people’s heartbreak.” Thus, she urged the congregation to instead live out the Bible’s teachings to care for their neighbors.
“Let us continue to look in the face of a stranger and see a neighbor. Let us recognize that when we shine the light in moments of darkness, it will guide our feet onto the path of peace,” Harris said before quoting from a verse that was popular at this year’s Democratic National Convention. “And let us always remember that ‘while weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning.’ Thank you. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.”
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a church service at Koinonia Christian Center in Greenville, North Carolina, on Oct. 13, 2024. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)
Harris’s remarks were largely focused on faith. Not only did she avoid explicitly attacking her opponent by name, she also did not mention her campaign or voting. Additionally, she spent most of her time talking about faith and what it means to live out the Bible’s teachings. The church also generally focused on calling her the vice president instead of a candidate — though a minister afterward made a reference to how people would react if she wins. And the church’s leaders avoided explicitly endorsing her or encouraging people to vote for her, though the preference was clear.
The service was much less problematic than a campaign video Harris recorded three years ago for Black churches in Virginia to play as she encouraged people to vote for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe. It’s not clear if churches actually played it, but McAuliffe lost. On Sunday, it seemed both Koinonia’s ministers and Harris attempted to steer clear of overt partisan politicking that would put the church in violation of the IRS’s political campaign activity ban (also called the “Johnson Amendment”) that prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits like houses of worship from supporting or opposing a candidate in an election. While Donald Trump has attacked it (and inaccurately bragged he “got rid” of it), Democratic politicians in Congress led the efforts to save the rule that prevents houses of worship from being exploited as tax-free arms of political campaigns.
Yet, even politicians who defend the political campaign activity ban sometimes also help churches violate it — like then-U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill as she unsuccessfully ran for reelection in 2018 against Josh Hawley. While Harris’s stop at a church Sunday was quite mundane when compared to a typical candidate visit, there’s another Democratic hopeful who is showing up in pulpits more than just about any other statewide candidate in the country this year. So this issue of A Public Witness heads deep in the heart of Texas to track the campaign of U.S. Rep. Colin Allred as he hopes to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
The rest of this piece is only available to paid subscribers of the Word&Way e-newsletter A Public Witness. Subscribe today to read this essay and all previous issues, and receive future ones in your inbox.
