This is a “News With Nicola” story.
President Joe Biden has officially withdrawn from the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
According to reports, Harris immediately jumped into action, coming up with a statement and making phone calls to lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and even her pastor.
It’s telling that one of the first people Harris called was her spiritual leader, the Rev. Amos Brown of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church.
According to USA Today, after news broke of President Biden’s withdrawal and endorsement, Harris made more than 100 phone calls within 10 hours, including one to her pastor — who, along with his wife, prayed with Harris over the phone.
Harris, who was raised in the Hindu and Christian faiths, is said to have attended predominantly Black churches as a child. She identifies as a Black Baptist. Harris, married to a Jewish man, is a member of the Rev. Brown’s Third Baptist Church of San Francisco.
But who is the Rev. Amos Brown? Here’s what we know.
Pastor Amos Brown is a prominent figure in San Francisco’s religious and civil rights communities.
He is the senior pastor of the historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco in California, where he has served since 1976.
Brown is known for his fiery sermons and activism.
He has been Harris’ spiritual advisor for several years.
They first met when Harris was serving as San Francisco’s District Attorney.
Over the years, the Rev. Brown has served as a mentor and spiritual guide to Harris, often counseling and supporting the vice president during key moments of her political career.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Brown is a civil rights leader who has championed various social justice causes throughout his career.
He is a member of the NAACP and sits on its Board of Directors.
Brown, 82, is also a former student of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who briefly taught at Morehouse College.
Like King, Brown sees the pursuit of social justice as part of the church’s mission.
With the Democratic National Convention in her sights, it’s sure that VP Harris will continue to lean on her pastor, the Rev. Amos C. Brown, for spiritual guidance — and even more so if she becomes the official nominee and even makes it back into the White House, this time as President.
Editor’s note: This article was written with the assistance of A.I.