Black Pentecostals won't vote for Hillary Clinton because she's a woman, black pastor claims
Darrell Scott, senior pastor of New Spirit Revival Center, posted a series of tweets last week claiming that African-Americans who identify as Apostolic Pentecostals will not vote for Clinton because of her gender.
The Cleveland pastor suggested that some black Apostolics will reject Clinton because they do not believe that women should be allowed to take on leadership roles.
One of the tweets read, "MILLIONS of Black Apostolic's don't believe in Women Pastors...much LESS Women PRESIDENTS. They will never vote for Hillary!"
"Some Traditional Black Apostolic Denominations do not believe Women should be in leadership, and will NEVER vote for a Woman to be President," Scott wrote in another tweet.
Scott reiterated the statements during an interview with CNN and cited I Timothy 2:12 from the New Testament. The verse read, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."
He noted that some apply the verse only to the Church but he claimed that he had conversations with Apostolics who refuse to elect a female president.
Bishop Joel Trout of Harvesttime Apostolic Ministries argued that the Apostolic Church has made some changes so it now allows women to serve as pastors and bishops. He estimated that about 75 up to 80 percent of its members are women.
Trout indicated that he is not supporting Clinton but he maintained that gender is not an issue.
"Last year, April of 2015, at a women's international or worldwide summit, she declared that the Church needs to change its views on abortion. That, to me, is more dangerous than her gender," Trout told CNN.
Scott acknowledged that there are still many Apostolics who fear backlash from African-Americans if they support Trump publicly. He claimed to have spoken privately with high profile personalities who would vote for Trump.
Earlier this month, Scott revealed that Trump was provided with some questions in preparation for the interview with Bishop Wayne T. Jackson during the candidate's visit to the Great Faith International Ministries church in Detroit.
