Biden Campaign Press Release - Biden for President Announces South Carolina Faith Outreach Director; Picks Up 39 Faith Leader Endorsements

Columbia, South Carolina — Today Biden for President is announcing the addition of Rev. Michael McClain as the campaign's South Carolina Faith Outreach Director and the endorsements of 39 South Carolina pastors and faith community leaders.

Rev. McClain is the current pastor of Historic Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Catawba, South Carolina and has served congregations over 45 years in New Jersey, North and South Carolina. In addition to his ministerial service, McClain has held numerous leadership positions in state and national religious organizations.

Rev. McClain, a longtime environmental justice advocate, most recently worked as the national outreach coordinator for the National Religious Partnership for the Environment in Washington D.C. In that role he worked with denominational leaders and congregations nationwide to educate them on the effects that climate change and clean energy have and will have on people of color and marginalized communities.

"Rev. McClain comes to the team with decades of experience and deep relationships in South Carolina's faith community," says Kendall Corley, South Carolina State Director, Biden for President. "He is one of the most experienced faith leaders in South Carolina to organize and mobilize congregations across the state."

The support for Joe Biden in South Carolina's faith community is overwhelming. Today's new endorsers come from all over the state, representing big and small congregations from multiple denominations in both rural and urban communities.

"The support for Joe Biden in South Carolina is momentous and folks are enthusiastically willing to do anything they can to elect him," said Rev. Michael McClain, South Carolina Faith Outreach Director, Biden for President. "We are honored to have the support of so many pastors and faith leaders already but this is just the beginning."

Today's new endorsements include:

• Pastor J. Thomas Barber- Boyd Hill Baptist, Rock Hill
• Pastor Ronnie Baxter- Union Baptist, Rock Hill
• Pastor T.A. Belton- Zion Pilgrim Baptist, Winnsboro
• Assoc. Minister Janice Belton-Byrd- Zion Pilgrim Baptist, Winnsboro
• Pastor Aderia Black- Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist, Bishopville
• Pastor Dr. James Blassingame- Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist, Sumter
• Pastor Dr. William Franklin Blue- Great Joy Baptist, McConnells
• Pastor Charles L. Booker Jr.- Mt. DoWell Baptist, McConnells
• Reverend Damein Boyles- Retired, Columbia
• Pastor Bernard Brown- Jerusalem Baptist, North Charleston
• Presiding Elder Sharon Browning- New Rock Hill District AME Zion, Rock Hill
• Pastor William Buie- First Calvary Baptist, Rock Hill
• Pastor Reginald Byrden- Grace Fellowship Church, Columbia
• Pastor Kenneth Cauthen- Mt. Nebo Baptist, Lancaster
• Pastor James L. Coleman Jr.- Second Calvary Baptist, Lancaster
• Pastor James Durant- New Mt. Olive Baptist, Gadsden
• Pastor Henry L. Edmonds- Union Baptist, Columbia
• Reverend Dr. Kenneth E. Floyd- Retired, Former President of Conway NAACP, Conway
• Pastor Larry Floyd- Weeping Mary, McConnells
• Pastor Dr. D.L. Grant- New Israel Baptist and Chapel Hill Baptist, Santee
• Pastor Larkin Hancock- Bethlehem Baptist, Chester
• Pastor Ina Culp Harris- Chestnut Grove AME Zion, Chester
• Pastor David Jackson- Goodwill Baptist, Eastover
• Dr. Sheila Koger- Sheila Koger Ministries, Columbia
• Pastor Paulette Leak- Lancaster
• Pastor Dr. John. T. McCoy- Nazareth Baptist, Rock Hill
• Pastor George A. McCoy- Gold Hill Baptist, York
• Pastor Debra Nash- James Chapel Baptist, Fort Mill
• Pastor Lavenia Pride- Mt. Airwell Baptist, Blackstock
• Reverend Ira Roddey- Retired, Rock Hill
• Pastor Dr. J.W. Sanders Jr.- Bethel Baptist, Gaffney
• Pastor Timothy Simmons- Oak Grove Baptist, North Charleston
• Pastor Sandra Sistare- Steel Hill AME Zion, Lancaster
• Pastor Joe H. Steve Jr.- Good Hope Missionary Baptist, Estill
• Pastor Earl Stringfellow- Mt. Pilgrim Baptist, Fort Lawn
• Reverend McKinley Washington- Retired and Former State Senator, Edisto Island
• Pastor Dr. Lavern Witherspoon- Prodigal AME, Retired Prison Chaplain, Swansea
• Pastor Charles Woods- Ebenezer Baptist, Rock Hill
• Reverend Al Yates- Retired, Rock Hill

These faith community leaders join the following in endorsing Vice President Joe Biden:

• Rep. Carl Anderson- Greater St. Stephens AME, Georgetown
• First Lady Jennifer Bishop- Grace Christian, Columbia
• Pastor Travien Capers- Zion Benevolent Baptist, Hopkins
• Pastor Johnny Ray Noble- Second Nazareth Baptist Church, Columbia