The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South Carolina has appointed its first-ever woman pastor months after the tragic shooting in the church in June that left nine people dead.
Rev. Betty Deas Clark was appointed by current Bishop Richard Norris, who is set to retire in the summer, according to the Post and Courier.
Clark made her first sermon on Jan. 24.
Before this, she said, "In the face of tragedy and uncertain times, we still have a God in whom we can trust."
"It's just an awesome task. You want to do God proud with whatever you do and approach it with humility," she said of her appointment.
The church was put on the national spotlight when suspect Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people during a Bible study inside the church.
Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff became the interim pastor since the shooting until Clark was appointed.
In her first sermon, Clark told the congregation, "I know that we're doing things that we've never done before. But every morning you wake up, you see a day you've never seen before. And every step that you take is a step that you've never taken before. ... Today is just the beginning."
While she did not specifically mention the tragedy, Clark talked about pain and hope.
"God feels our pain, hears our cries and he knows our every move," she said.
She added, "While the dreams, expectations and bodies of many have been laid to rest, we must not allow nor put our hope to rest. We must believe as a family in God (and) that our best days are in front of us. We must believe that better days are coming."
Church member Brenda Bennett praised her sermon.
"Thank the Lord, God has sent us a woman after God's own heart," she said.
Bob Sanders said, "It almost alluded to some of the things Martin Luther King said, in my opinion; hope and justice."
