Evangelical Clergy Encourage Trump to ‘Stay the Course’ Prior to Debate

As America prepares for the first presidential debate tonight, 101 northern Ohio pastors have sent President Donald J. Trump a letter thanking him for 20 policies enacted during his presidency.

The letter thanks president Trump for his “dedicated service to our nation” and is meant to encourage him as he faces off against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at 9 p.m. ET today at the Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

The November general election is 36 days away.

A member of the group, Bishop Sylvester Ginn of Ontario, Ohio, said, “When a person votes, you cannot go by a man’s personality, you have to go by his policies. This may be unpopular, but in this world, it always takes courage to do the right thing. Actions speak louder than words.”

Ginn went on to say, “The Bible says to commend those who do right. As clergy across different denominational lines, we believe the president’s policies highlighted in our letter match our values on issues of faith, family and freedom.”

The multiethnic and multidenominational group listed these policies and the dates they passed. They range from the 2017 reinstated and expanded Mexico City Policy, which blocks funding for international organization that perform and promote abortion, to the 2018 Place of Worship Initiative, which increases enforcement and public awareness of federal protections for religious uses of property, to the 2020 Department of Homeland Security inclusion of clergy being categorized as essential support for responding to the coronavirus, a designation that allows clergy and pastors more freedom to continue to operate and serve their communities.

Following a detailed breakdown of the 20 policies, the clergy wrote, “President Trump, based on this list of policy decisions, as [101] faith leaders, we consider you an advocate for religious liberty and are convinced that you have come to the Oval Office for such a time as this.”

The last time America saw Biden in a debate, the stage was filled with other candidates for president. As the Democratic nominee, Biden now takes the stage with Trump. Issues expected to be addressed during the debate include the president’s recent Supreme Court nomination, racial tensions, election integrity, the pandemic and the economy. {eoa}