After GOP front-runner Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he attends a church in Manhattan, the church released a statement saying Mr. Trump is not an “active member.”
Mr. Trump told reporters in Greenville, South Carolina, that he was a Presbyterian Protestant and attended Marble Collegiate Church as often as he could.
Following his statement, the church released a statement to CNN about Mr. Trump’s affiliation.
“Donald Trump has had a longstanding history with Marble Collegiate Church, where his parents were for years active members and one of his children was baptized. However, as he indicates, he is a Presbyterian, and is not an active member of Marble,” the statement said, CNN reported.
Marble Collegiate Church was founded in 1628 and is one of the oldest continuous Protestant denominations in the country. The church is part of the Reformed Church in America denomination.
Mr. Trump has expressed great admiration for Norman Vincent Peale, the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church for 52 years and the author of the well-known self-help book “The Power of Positive Thinking.”
“Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, ’The Power of Positive Thinking’ was my pastor,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday. “To this day one of the great speakers I’ve seen. You hated to leave church. You hated when the sermon was over. That’s how great he was at Marble Collegiate Church.”
Mr. Trump was born in Queens where he originally went to church at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica.
“I’ve just had great experiences at church, whether it is Sunday School or whatever it may be, but now I go to Marble Collegiate Church,” he told reporters.
First Presbyterian confirmed to CNN Friday that Mr. Trump attended Sunday School and was confirmed there.
Mr. Trump, who leads in polls with white evangelical voters told reporters Thursday that he will soon meet with ministers and pastors.
He is also scheduled to meet with televangelist Paula White and other evangelical leaders in New York City in September, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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