Dylann roof

Honorable Rev. Clementa Pinckney

The Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, 41, lived much of his life in Ridgeland, South Carolina, but he left a positive impact as a Pastor and Statesman far beyond rural Jasper County. As Pastor, he served thousands of parishioners in many South Carolina churches, and he was a leading member of the South Carolina Senate.

Born into a family with a legacy of church leadership and civil rights activism, Pinckney graduated magna cum laude from Allen University, where he was elected president of the freshman class, senior class, and student body. He was named one of America’s top college students by Ebony Magazine and received a Princeton University Woodrow Wilson Summer Research Fellowship in the fields of public policy and international affairs. He received a graduate fellowship to the University of South Carolina, where he earned a master’s in public administration.

At age 13, Pinckney felt called to become a pastor and was ordained at age 18. After completing his studies at Allen and USC, he earned a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological

Clementa Pinckney

Prior offices

South Carolina House of Representatives


South Carolina State Senate District 45


Personal

Clementa C. Pinckney (July 30, 1973 - June 17, 2015) was a Democratic member of the South Carolina State Senate. He represented District 45 from 2000 until June 17, 2015, when he was killed in a mass shooting at an AME church in Charleston, South Carolina.[1]

Pinckney served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1997 to 2000.

Biography

Pinckney was a research fellow at Princeton University in 1994. He then earned his B.A. from Allen University in 1995. He went on to receive his M.P.A. from the University of South Carolina in 1999 and his M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 2008.[2][3]

Pinckney was an African Methodist Episcopal pastor, serving at several churches including the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.[3]

Committee assignments

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Pinckney served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At

Clementa C. Pinckney

American politician and pastor (1973–2015)

The Reverend

Clementa C. Pinckney

In office
January 2001 – June 17, 2015
Preceded byMcKinley Washington Jr.
Succeeded byMargie Bright Matthews
In office
January 1997 – January 2001
Preceded byJuanita Mitchell White
Succeeded byThayer Rivers
Born

Clementa Carlos Pinckney


(1973-07-30)July 30, 1973
Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJune 17, 2015(2015-06-17) (aged 41)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Manner of deathAssassination
Resting placeSaint James Cemetery
Marion, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJennifer Benjamin
Children2
Alma materAllen University (BA)
University of South Carolina (MPA)
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (M.Div.)
Wesley Theological Seminary
ReligionChristian
ChurchEmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
PostSenior pastor (2010–2015)

Clementa Carlos Pinckney[a] (July 30, 1973 – June 17, 2015) was an American

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