Leading in the polls but lacking deep political roots with the religious right, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is planning to gather with a group of evangelical Christian leaders at his office next month.
The meeting’s invitation, shared with The Wall Street Journal by a person who received it, describes the planned Sept. 28 Trump Tower gathering as “a small group meeting, maximum 30 people.”
“Mr Trump’s goal is simple, to hear the heart of America’s Christian leaders and learn what they feel are the most critical issues facing our nation today,” wrote Sheila Withum, a Tampa, Fla., public relations executive who “has an extensive background in media ministry,” according to her website.
The invitation states Mr. Trump aims to meet with “selected Christian leaders and ministry professionals.” Ms. Withum referred questions about the invitation to Mr. Trump’s aides.
Michael Cohen, the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said the New York developer will meet with “a significant number of pastors from across the country that will be coming to meet with Mr. Trump for a prayer service.”
Mr. Cohen said the gathering is being organized not by the Trump campaign or the Trump Organization, which oversees Mr. Trump’s business interests. Instead he said “the evangelical community,” led by Paula White, a Florida evangelical preacher with a daily television show on The Word Network, was arranging the session.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign said the event isn’t affiliated with his campaign organization. “It’s a private meeting,” she said.
Ms. White couldn’t be reached for comment.
When Mr. Trump was considering entering the 2012 presidential campaign, Ms. Scott arranged a meeting for him with evangelical pastors. Mr. Trump has also appeared on her television show, “Paula White Today.”
A Monmouth University poll of South Carolina Republicans released Tuesday found Mr. Trump with a sizeable lead over his Republican presidential rivals among the state’s evangelical voters. Two-thirds of the state’s GOP primary voters consider themselves evangelicals, and 33% told the pollster they back Mr. Trump. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was second among the group with 18% support.
Last month in Iowa, Mr. Trump, a thrice-married Presbyterian, surprised many evangelical leaders when said he did not recall ever asking God for forgiveness.
“I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don’t think so,” he told moderator Frank Luntz at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa. “I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture. I don’t.”
Mr. Trump did say he accepts communion, though his description of the process drew audible gasps from the audience at Iowa State University.
“When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness,” Mr. Trump said. “I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed, OK? To me that’s important, I do that.”
Larry Noble, a former general counsel at the Federal Election Commission, said that because Mr. Trump is a presidential candidate the planned meeting appears to be a campaign event, in which case Mr. Trump’s campaign must reimburse the Trump Organization for use of the space and other costs associated with the meeting.
“The law prohibits corporations from making in kind contributions to candidates and that includes putting on events,” said Mr. Noble, who is now senior counsel at the Campaign Legal Center.