Dr. Harry Reeder dies in a car accident
On Thursday, Pastor Dr. Harry Reeder spoke to the Legislative prayer service in Montgomery. After worshipping and fellowshipping with legislators and policy influencers, he never returned home. The longtime pastor at Briarwood Presbyterian Church PCA died in an automobile crash on I-65. State Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed announced the news on the Senate floor at the close of the legislative day. “It has been a sad day,” said Reed. “It has been a difficult day.” “He was a very close personal friend of one of our colleagues,” Reed said. That colleague was State Senator Dan Roberts. Roberts had been in the midst of carrying legislation on the Senate floor when he received the news. Congressman Gary Palmer said on Facebook, “I am heartbroken to hear the news my pastor, Harry Reeder, has passed away. Dr. Reeder was more than a pastor, he was a dear friend, mentor, and a man who understood and exemplified Godly leadership. Harry had an enormous impact on the lives of countless men and women. I will miss his teaching and his friendship, but I’m confident in knowing that one day I will see him again. Ann and I are praying for his family during this time.” Former Alabama Republican Party Chairman and State Senator Bill Armistead said on Facebook, “Today, many in Birmingham and throughout the Christian community in America and the World are grieving the loss of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, PCA Senior Pastor Harry Reeder who was killed in a tragic automobile accident this morning. Pastor Reeder has been a dear friend of mine for 25 years and I was blessed to have lunch with him yesterday along with some other brothers in Christ. As a tribute to Pastor Reeder, I am attaching a link to his daily 10 minute radio program “Today In Perspective” that aired yesterday which provides a Biblical World and Life View analysis of current events and issues. May God bless Pastor Reeder’s family and his family in Christ.” Alabama Citizens Action Program Director and radio host Greg Davis said on Facebook, “In January Dr. Harry Reeder pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, PCA accepted my invitation to speak on May 18th to legislators at the ALCAP – Alabama Citizens Action Program prayer breakfast in Montgomery. He graciously accepted with nothing to gain for himself. He only came from a desire to impact legislators with the gospel and to be with Senator Dan Roberts for Alabama. He arrived last night and visited with me for about an hour. We met early this morning and he spoke to our group. Only God knew it would be his last message as he never made it home. Hear the entire story and my tribute. We hurt his family and the church but Harry is now truly home.” Members of the Briarwood Congregation were informed in a statement from the Church on Facebook that read as follows: “Dear Congregation, It is with a deeply heavy heart that I communicate to you that our Lord has called Pastor Reeder home through a car accident. Please pray for Cindy, Jennifer, Ike, Abby, and their entire family as well as our staff and church family as we all grieve this tremendous loss together. But we do not grieve without hope because we know our pastor is with His Savior and has been received by grace with – “Well done My good and faithful servant.” In Christ our Lord! Bruce Stallings” Dr. Harry L. Reeder III has been the pastor of Briarwood since 1999. He and his wife, Cindy, are natives of Charlotte, North Carolina. They have three children: Jennifer Hay, Harry Reeder IV, and Abigail Leib. They have nine grandchildren. He studied at East Carolina University and finished his bachelor’s degree at Covenant College. After completing his B.A. Degree in History and Bible, he began to attend Tennessee Temple Seminary part-time while serving an Independent Bible Church as a student pastor. Reeder then went into a Pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in America in Miami, Florida—Pinelands Presbyterian Church—while completing a Master of Divinity degree with Westminster Seminary through the Florida Theological Center. Reeder has a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. After three years at Pinelands Presbyterian, Reeder became the founding pastor at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church as their founding Pastor. The ministry began with 38 committed members, and in seventeen years, attendance grew to over 3,000 while planting a number of daughter churches. Reeder also hosted a Bible-teaching radio ministry entitled “In Perspective.” Reeder also hosted a podcast program called “Today in Perspective.” Reeder is the author of The Leadership Dynamic, From Embers to a Flame – How God Can Revitalize Your Church, and other published works, Reeder served as an adjunct faculty member at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte while holding the same status at Birmingham Theological Seminary and Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, where he also served on the Board of Trustees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama senator Richard Shelby has indicated he won’t run again
U.S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, the Senate’s fourth most senior member, has told confidants that he does not intend to run for reelection next year_— prompting some Republicans to urge the powerful, establishment politician to reconsider, even as potential replacements prepare to run for his seat. The senator in recent weeks told one close Alabama ally that he was not planning on running in 2022 for what would be his seventh term, according to the ally, who was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The person said some in the state were still trying to get Shelby to change his mind out of concern about losing clout and worries that the senator might be replaced by a fringe candidate who would not be as effective. Shelby spokeswoman Blair Taylor said Friday that the senator has not made a decision, “but there will likely be an announcement forthcoming in the next few weeks.” “As I previously stated, the Senator has not made a decision or an announcement regarding whether or not he plans to run in 2022. Any speculation is just that, speculation,” Taylor wrote in an email Friday. A titan of Alabama politics, the 86-year-old politician has spent 42 years in Washington, serving first in the House before the Senate. His stepping down would leave a power void for the region. It would also set off a free-for-all primary in a national party deeply divided between traditional Republicans like Shelby and those who model themselves on former President Donald Trump. Shelby was elected to the Senate in 1986 as a conservative Democrat during the party’s waning days of power in the Deep South, but he switched to the GOP in 1994. He’s spent the past two years as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee before Democrats gained control of the chamber. All along, he has used his influence to benefit the state’s interests, particularly ports and military manufacturers. He played a key role in bringing an FBI campus and the newly announced Space Command to Huntsville. “I don’t know anybody who knows how to wield power like Shelby does,” said David Mowery, an Alabama-based political consultant. “I would say that is his greatest accomplishment, to get money allocated to the state for many different projects,” former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said. Alabama’s political circles have long braced for a Shelby retirement. Armistead said the senator told him during his 2016 bid for reelection that it was his last campaign, but Armistead added the caveat that, “Things change.” Several months ago, Shelby told a group of business leaders at a private meeting that he would retire rather than run again, according to a person in attendance who was not authorized to discuss the event and also spoke on condition of anonymity. A list of potential GOP replacements is waiting in the wings. Possible candidates include Shelby’s former chief of staff, Katie Boyd Britt, who now heads an influential business lobby and who would likely have the senator’s backing if she decided to enter the race. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, who suspended his 2020 Senate campaign when former Attorney General Jeff Sessions jumped in the race, said he would consider a run. Rep. Mo Brooks is also expected to eye the seat. Brooks has faced criticism for his role in the Jan. 6 siege at the U.S. Capitol. At a rally before the deadly riot, he told the crowd it was time for “taking down names and kicking ass,” but has maintained since that he was talking about fighting at the ballot box. Brooks declined to comment. Britt did not immediately respond to a text message and a message on social media. Shelby could use his power to give his preferred successor a boost. The senator has gone much of his career without serious opposition and has nearly $10 million in campaign money that he could throw toward his candidate of choice. Still, the GOP primary could serve as a microcosm of the larger national tug of war over the direction of the Republican Party. While Shelby has amassed a conservative voting record, the measured Republican senator has not embraced the bombastic populist style of Trump and Trump-like candidates. “I think it would be a total free-for-all,” said Mowery. Shelby was one of the last of the “old style-Southern politicians who saw as their main job as to steer as much of the federal budget to the state, instead of jumping on the hot-button issue of the day,” Mowery said. In 2017, Shelby bucked his party when he announced that he could not support Republican Roy Moore, who faced sexual misconduct allegations, in the special election for Alabama’s other Senate seat. “You’ll have a lot of candidates that will try to be as loud or as dumb as possible because they think that is what plays to 50% or more of the Republican electorate — not realizing that’s not how you get things done in Washington,” Mowery said. Some prominent state figures are still hoping that Shelby will reconsider. “I hope he will run again. I don’t think there is anyone who has meant more to the state of Alabama in that position in my lifetime,” former Gov. Bob Riley said. ___ This story has been edited to correct that Bill Armistead is the former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
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Roy Moore’s campaign communications director, John Rogers, resigns
John Rogers, the communications director for Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, resigned from his position on the campaign Wednesday. Campaign chairman Bill Armistead confirmed the news. “As we all know, campaigns make changes throughout the duration of the campaign, as do those working in the campaign,” Armistead said in a statement. “John made the decision to leave the campaign last Friday – any representations to the contrary are false – and we wish him well.” Armistead also said that effective immediately, Hannah Ford, who serves as Deputy Campaign Manager, would be the media contact for the final three weeks of the campaign. Rogers’ decision to leave, just weeks before the Dec. 12 special election, comes as Moore continues to draw criticism in the wake of The Washington Post’s explosive report on Thursday Nov. 9 with the accounts of four women who claim Moore sexually pursued them when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens. Moore vehemently denies the accusations.
Former state senator, GOP Chairman to run Roy Moore’s Senate campaign
Former Alabama Chief Justice and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore has tapped Bill Armistead to serve as his campaign manager. Armistead is no stranger to Alabama politics. Most recently, he served as the Alabama Republican Party Chairman from 2011 to 2015. Prior to that he had served two terms as a state senator from 1994 to 2002. He was also the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor in 2002. “I am honored to have Bill Armistead serving as my Campaign Chairman,” said Moore on Facebook. “I have known Bill for over 25 years and know him to be an ethical leader of our party who consistently stands up for our shared conservative values. Bill will help us engage the real people of Alabama who are frustrated by establishment politics in Washington and want a Senator who will be their voice.” Under Armistead’s leadership, the Republican Party increased its majorities in the state legislature winning every statewide office and made record gains at the local level. “Judge Roy Moore will be the next United States Senator from Alabama, and I am proud to offer my endorsement and support. I encourage all my friends across the state to join the campaign today by visiting judgemooreforsenate.com or on Facebook @JudgeRoyMoore,” Armistead said in a press release. He continued, “Judge Moore has stood up for conservative values his whole career, often in the face of so-called, bi-partisan adversaries, and this campaign will be no different. The Washington establishment has made it clear that they want to hand-pick the next Senator from Alabama, but I have every confidence that voters in Alabama will stand with Judge Roy Moore on August 15th and send a proven fighter and tested outsider to Washington to shake up the status quo and support President Donald Trump in draining the swamp.” Moore will face nine Republican challengers in the August 15 primary.
State chairs Will Ainsworth, Bill Armistead will helm Marco Rubio’s AL campaign
The White House campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio announced late last week that two Republican statehouse stalwarts will co-chair Rubio’s presidential efforts in Alabama. Former state GOP chairman and state Sen. Bill Armistead and Rep. Will Ainsworth will serve as state chairs for the junior senator from Florida as he fights his way through a deep Republican field eager for Southern votes in 2016’s new “SEC primary.” “It is a great honor to be chosen by Senator Marco Rubio to co-chair his presidential campaign in Alabama,” said Armistead in a statement. “He is not only the future of the Republican Party but also the future of America. “If you have seen the debates you know that he, better than anyone else, is the best candidate to debate and defeat Hillary. I encourage all conservatives to rally around Senator Rubio and together we will elect him as our next President,” said an effusive Armistead. Rep. Ainsworth, elected to the state House in 2014’s conservative-leaning midterms, agreed heartily with Armistead while also taking a jab at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose poll numbers in Alabama and around the nation have lagged of late. “I’m excited and humbled to be Co-Chairing Alabama for Marco Rubio,” said Ainsworth. “If we continue to elect the leaders of yesterday, Washington will never change and that’s why I proudly support Marco Rubio. Marco’s plan for a New American Economy will create jobs and ensure that our country remains vibrant in the 21st Century.” Alabama’s presidential preference primaries – like that of Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas, united for the first time in modern history – are set to take place March 1st. The most recent available national poll, released by Public Policy Polling on November 1, placed Rubio in 4th place with 10 percent of the vote, behind nontraditional candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson as well as Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
