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.
“We’re going to help our community vote, whether it’s by mail [and] other times when our bus or van would go out,” Burton said. “You know we take members of the community to the polls. It didn’t have to be members of our church. So that’s just one of the services that we’re doing as our church for the community.”
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’s 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 “it is the church’s responsibility to help get souls to the polls.”
A list of notaries can be found below.
Rolla:
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Contact: The Rev. Maria Evans—MLEvans327@gmail.com
St. Louis Region:
- Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis
- Contact: Jillian Smith — jillian.smith57@gmail.com
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves. Two notaries are available.
- Contact: Mimi Shipp, director of communications and invitation — mshipp@emmanuelepiscopal.org
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ferguson
- Contact: John Kavanaugh — 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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