THE PRESIDENT: That was a bad thing that Lyndon Johnson did a long time ago. He had to have a lot of power to get it done, but you now are free to say what you want. And when you want to support somebody, you support that. It doesn't have to be me. Of course, I hope it's me. But you're free.
You know, you're the people that we respect. And you were really not able to say what was on your mind. And we want you to say what was on your mind and what is on your mind. So I think getting rid of that is a big, big factor. And at some point in the not-too-distant future, we're going to put it through Congress. In addition to just an executive order, we're going to put it through Congress. We're going to get rid of it permanently because it should not be here. Okay? We're going to work on that.
Thank you.
PASTOR NESBITT: Mr. President, I'm Sharon Nesbitt, senior pastor of Dominion Church in Marion, Arkansas. I wanted to say thank you for your policies on prison reform and urban initiatives.
As you know, Arkansas has one of the largest prison rates in the country. So thank you for getting us back to the table, and for your faith-based initiatives to let us come to the table.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Great place. Great place. Thank you.
BISHOP HINES: Mr. President, my name is Bishop Darrell Hines, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I pastor the Christian Faith Fellowship Church of God in Christ. And I serve on the general board of the Church of God in Christ, where we have a five-point, faith-based initiative for inner city reform. And, of course, prison is one of them.
And so I appreciate, first of all, being invited to the table. It's an interesting thing because I was watching news - I watch news all the time. And I saw you on the news - this was just last week. And I said, "You know, I would love to go and have him hear me." But I said, "I don't know how that's possible. I don't know anybody who I think - who knows him."
THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.)
BISHOP HINES: And then I get the call from - I don't want to call him "Coconut" - but I get it from Marvin, Jr. He calls me and he says, "Listen, I want you to go with me to the White House."
And I think the most interesting thing about this moment is that we hear several things, but to know you hear us is an encouraging moment. And I want to thank you for taking this time to invite us to the White House, and then taking the time to hear us concerning our concerns in our community and in our faith, because they both need the ear of the President.
So thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: That's very nice. Thank you.
So you were surprised to get that call right after you talked to (inaudible), right?
BISHOP HINES: Yes. Right after. God moves in mysterious ways.
THE PRESIDENT: You know who that - right.
REVEREND OWENS: Thank you, Mr. President. My name is Bill Owens, founder and the president of the Coalition of African American Pastors. I'm honored to be here with you today. We've met several times. Thank you, Dr. Scott, for the invitation - and Paula White - to be here. And we are with you 100 percent.
I'm with Bishop Hines and the Church of God in Christ. We are all in it together. So we will work together to make the difference.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Reverend.
PASTOR SCOTT: Can I say something? Reverend Owens has been active with several different administrations in the past as well. He worked with President Reagan, am I right?
REVEREND OWENS: Bush.
PASTOR SCOTT: President Bush.
REVEREND OWENS: Very closely.
DR. KING: He marched with Martin Luther King, too.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
PASTOR FREEMAN: And it was my turn to go, but (inaudible). (Laughter.) Mr. President, I am certainly honored to be here with you. I'm Pastor Mike Freeman, from the Spirit of Faith Christian Center, 10 minutes from this house. You are invited any Sunday you would like to come.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
PASTOR FREEMAN: I'll leave a parking space open for you there so you won't have any opportunity to be delayed.
This is a very critical time that we're in. One of the things I remember the most and recall about a statement you made when you were running, you said if you were able to win the White House, that Christians would have a friend in the White House.
I was really eager to find out whether or not that word would be kept as such. To be sitting here with you today, as a representative of the Christian community, it is so wonderful. I'm elated to know, first of all, that you're a man of your word. Secondly, you have an ear to hear from God. With your having an ear to hear from God, this country is in great hands.
My prayer for you is that your ear will always be open to the wisdom and the spirit of God. And I'm praying for you constantly, and everything I pray for comes to pass. (Laughter.) God bless you.
THE PRESIDENT: That's very nice. And I'll get over there, too.
PASTOR FREEMAN: Yes, sir. That would be great.
THE PRESIDENT: We'll get over there. Thank you.
BISHOP BRONNER: Mr. President, I'm Bishop Dale Bronner from Atlanta, the senior pastor and founder of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral. And I'm from the business world. My father planted a business in the hair cosmetic manufacturing business - 1947.
THE PRESIDENT: Wow.
BISHOP BRONNER: And so we've been doing business there in Atlanta for all of these years and employing people. So thank you so much. I love the stimulation that I see in the economy now. It is the best that it has been in so many, many years.
And I'm so deeply, deeply grateful for all the prison reform initiatives that I see underway - that is exciting and enthralling to me - as well as the urban initiatives that will help minority communities around this country. Thank you so much for your boldness and your courage to do - to make great things happen. And you're making them happen.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
BISHOP BRONNER: Sure.
THE PRESIDENT: Very nice.
BISHOP JACKSON: I'm Bishop Harry Jackson from right here in the D.C. area. First of all, I really feel called to pray for you. And the year before you - as you ran, I felt that burden; I felt that feeling that you were going to win. And I'm so very thankful, as he said, that you're so open.
Criminal justice reform is so critical because it prevents many African Americans and Hispanics from becoming a permanent underclass.
And I think the opportunities-owned concepts that you're working with are critical because it brings green power. We really don't need black power unless you got some green power working with that black power. (Laughter.) It brings green power to our urban areas. So I believe we can break the generational curse of poverty and people who are isolated, and it's because of your boldness.
And despite all that's been coming against you, you've stood your ground and you've been a champion. God bless you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, Harry. Appreciate it.
John.
PASTOR GRAY: Mr. President, John Gray, Senior Pastor of Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina. And I am grateful for the opportunity to be at this table at a time in our country where faith is becoming a bit of a dinosaur. In a time of moral relativism and secular humanism, it is refreshing to know that those of us who have committed our lives to fighting for people who cannot fight for themselves have a seat at the table to share our hearts.
I believe that the very best principles of scripture call us to fight for the poor, for the oppressed, for those who have made mistakes. Criminal justice reform is an opportunity to give a second and third chance to those who want to become productive members of society. Our nation cannot forget the broken. It is in the best tradition of our nation to fight for them.
And when I think about the history of the church in this country, we have always fought for those who could not fight for themselves. So when I think of those who are coming out of prison who want to contribute, this is critical.
When I think of veterans - I have here the obituary of my uncle who passed away a few weeks ago. He was 77. He was a veteran in the U.S. Army and he battled through mental illness and other challenges. And we saw systemic poverty - multi-generational poverty. But had he been resourced with the proper care and had he been resourced with other necessities, he could have contributed even more.
And so I'm very grateful for you, for this administration that's allowing for the conversation. And again, my prayer is that you will continue to have wisdom and insight to lead this nation. Truly, all of us are created equal. And so thank you for giving us an equal opportunity to fight for this nation and what it means to be an American.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, John.
PASTOR GRAY: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: How many people in your church?
PASTOR GRAY: Well, we just started three months ago and we have about 5,500, 6,000.
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, that's what I heard. I heard it's really incredible. Very quick.
PASTOR GRAY: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Some of them - 45,000, 50,000 people. Some of you even more than that. So I congratulate you all, and it's an honor to have you here. And you always have a friend in the White House. You know that. Harry, you know that. Right?
Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.
