National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 9

IN MEMORIAM

In
Memoriam
The YEO Network honors the life and
legacy of State Senator and Reverend
Clementa Pinckney, who was killed
last month in the tragic shooting in
Charleston, South Carolina.

REV. CLEMENTA PINCKNEY

YEO National Convening | 2015

Rev. Pinckney attended our first two
National Convenings and was a beloved member
of the YEO Network.
Rev. Pinckney answered a call to service at
a young age, preaching by 13, ministering at 18,
serving in the state legislature at 23. In 2000 he
made history as the youngest African American
to be elected to the state Senate in South
Carolina. He was a transformative and inspiring
leader, advocating for gun violence prevention,
supporting domestic violence survivors, and
protecting the environment.
We will strive to honor and remember him
as an individual and also his legacy in the work
that we do to further understanding and promote
peace in our communities.
In a 2013 speech about his church, Emanuel
AME, Clementa said:
“Could we not argue that America is about
freedom whether we live it out or not? Freedom,
equality and the pursuit of happiness. And that is
what church is all about: freedom to worship and
freedom from sin, freedom to be full of what God
intends us to be, and to have equality in the sight
of God. And sometimes you got to make noise to
do that. Sometimes you may have to die… to do
that. Sometimes you have to march, struggle and
be unpopular to do that.”

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