Democrats name pastor to lead faith outreach
As President Obama gears up his reelection campaign, the Democratic
National Committee has tapped a well-connected Washington pastor to lead
the party's religious outreach. He is Derrick Harkins, senior pastor of
Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, one of Washington's oldest
historically black churches. Obama and his family worshiped there
shortly before his inauguration.
Harkins is also a board member of
the National Association of Evangelicals, a nationwide umbrella group,
and Faith in Public Life, a liberal strategy center.
"I have
every expectation that people of faith will be a key part of a
successful election for Democrats in 2012," Harkins said on October 20.
The pastor added that he will attempt to engage religious Americans on
immigration reform, Obama's new health-care law and the role of religion
in public life.
