Interim pastor walks line between leading, comforting stricken members of Emanuel AME
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The Rev. Norvel Goff will walk into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church for Bible study keenly aware of the crushing burden now on his shoulders.
He's expected to be a comforter, a teacher, a man of God and most powerfully, a leader of a church whose heart is heavy with the tragic loss of its senior pastor and eight members.
The 65-year-old Goff was named interim leader of the historic church called "Mother Emanuel" at one of the lowest points in its nearly 200-year history. But the Georgetown, South Carolina, native says the church won't dwell on the past.
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He'll lead the church through its Bible study Wednesday night, exactly one week after police say a 21-year-old white man opened fire on the group after sitting with them for an hour.