As the clock winds down to the general election, churches in the region are working to make the voting process easier.
New Northside Missionary Baptist Church will be offering rides to members of the church and the community on Election Day. The Rev. Rodrick Burton is the pastor of the predominantly Black congregation in Jennings. In addition to providing rides, he said, his church has an in-house notary.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to help our community vote, whether it鈥檚 by mail [and] other times when our bus or van would go out,鈥� Burton said. 鈥淵ou know we take members of the community to the polls. It didn鈥檛 have to be members of our church. So that鈥檚 just one of the services that we鈥檙e doing as our church for the community.鈥�
Several churches in the region are also offering notary services this election to those who want to vote by mail or absentee ballot. Those churches include Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Christ Episcopal Church in Rolla, Christ Church Cathedral and St. Stephen鈥檚 Episcopal Church.
The Most Rev. Michael Curry, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said in a statement that Christians are obligated to vote and that 鈥渋t is the church鈥檚 responsibility to help get souls to the polls.鈥�
A list of notaries can be found below.
Rolla:
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Contact: The Rev. Maria Evans鈥�MLEvans327@gmail.com
St. Louis Region:
- Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis
- Contact: Jillian Smith 鈥� jillian.smith57@gmail.com
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves. Two notaries are available.
- Contact: Mimi Shipp, director of communications and invitation 鈥� mshipp@emmanuelepiscopal.org
- St. Stephen鈥檚 Episcopal Church in Ferguson
- Contact: John Kavanaugh 鈥� 314-651-7885
St. Charles County:
- The Rev. Christina Cobb (no church affiliation) in St. Charles County/Lake St. Louis
- Contact: Christinacobb511@hotmail.com
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