WASHINGTON — After choosing an evangelical pastor to deliver the invocation at his swearing-in, President-elect Barack Obama has chosen two progressive Protestant leaders — a woman and an openly gay bishop– to bookend his inaugural ceremonies.
“It reflects his commitment to pluralism,” said Shaun Casey, an ethics professor at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington who advised Obama during the presidential campaign. “My advice is for folks to look at the full range of people invited (to deliver prayers) — the sum is larger than its parts.”
Obama’s pick of California megachurch pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20 was heavily criticized by liberals, especially gay groups. Warren advocated for the passage of Proposition 8, which outlawed gay marriage in California.
Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson was among the most vocal critics, saying that Obama’s decision to invite Warren “was like a slap in the face.”
Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, announced Monday (Jan. 12) that he’s been invited to kick off the inaugural ceremonies on Sunday (Jan. 18) by delivering an invocation at a celebratory concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
The Rev. Sharon Watkins, the first woman elected to lead the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will preach at a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral that concludes the inaugural ceremonies. She will be the first woman to deliver the sermon at the traditional inaugural event, according to the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Obama’s invitation “is an indication of the new president’s commitment to being president of ALL the people,” Robinson said in an e-mail to supporters. “I am humbled and overjoyed at this invitation, and it will be my great honor to be there representing the Episcopal Church, the people of New Hampshire, and all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.”
Robinson endorsed Obama in August, 2007, and has remained an adviser to him, a spokesman told the Concord Monitor newspaper in New Hampshire.
“This is something the gay rights movement should focus on as much as the Warren pick,” said prominent blogger Andrew Sullivan, “(that) Obama’s understanding that American Christianity is not a monolith on the question of the sacredness of gay marriage.”
Watkins, who was elected general minister and president of her
700,000- member denomination in 2005, serves on the board of the National Council of Churches and Sojourners, an anti-poverty ministry in Washington.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is closely aligned with the United Church of Christ, the denomination Obama joined when he became a member of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ nearly 20 years ago. Obama broke ties with Trinity, however, during the campaign, after controversial church sermons were broadcast.
Unlike the UCC, which endorses gay marriage, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) does not have a denominational policy on same-sex unions.
“I hope that my message will call us to believe in something bigger than ourselves and remind us to reach out to all of our neighbors to build communities of possibility,” Watkins said.
The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a United Methodist and civil rights pioneer who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will deliver the benediction at the swearing-in on Jan. 20.
By DANIEL BURKE
c. 2009 Religion News Service
Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted January 12, 2009 at 6:47 pm
For the love of all that is holy, why is any of this newsworthy? Be sure to include a hobit, a dwarf, an elf, a reindeer, a sheaman, the bearded lady, a wombat, a wallabee, a duck-billed platapus, and a muskrat, all of differing sexual orientation if you will!
Sorry, folks, but this is really throwing me for a loop! All this what to do about who or what bookends are used at an inaugural prayer invocation. I’m really starting to miss Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Parris Hilton, and I truely never thought I’d reach this point of despondency.
Oh, and congradulations, Pres. Elect Obama!! You truely are a man of all (or most) born people! Hail to the chief!!
posted January 12, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Steve Waldmans article on same subject mentioned that the Inaugural Committee picked everyone early on, not after Rick Warrens invitation. If they had announced everyone at the same time there wouldn’t have been so much disappointment and speculation. Obama is doing just as he said he would giving all people consideration and doing a new thing! This is good, now that it all comes together.
posted January 12, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I hope what Henrietta and Steve report is true. I’m a little with Tom though. Simplest, certainly, to leave preachers and such out entirely. Can you imagine this kind of thing happening in school board meetings all over America if they allowed sponsored prayer in public schools!
posted January 13, 2009 at 12:50 am
Another shining example of political correctness and politics reigning supreme.
posted January 13, 2009 at 8:50 am
For the sake of all-inclusiveness, I feel the Orcs should have representatives of their own as well, also of a variety of sexual-orientations. All or nothing, baby!
posted January 13, 2009 at 10:43 am
=================================
= OBAMA – THE CHRISTIAN IMPOSTOR
=================================
Considering how much Obama has strayed from the teaching in the Bible, he fits the description provided by the apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy. Paul says “men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Obama’s position on abortion, homosexuality and other issues (and his own mocking of the Bible), fits the description. And Pauls calls these people “evil men and impostors.”
posted January 13, 2009 at 11:27 am
So all of America’s Christians have strayed from the bible? N Waff.
All of creation has strayed from the bible. Even the one’s who think they are following letter to letter. To list all of our sins or wrong-doings is boring, so I won’t. No, our new President follows goodness better than most men.
posted January 13, 2009 at 11:40 am
[Obama's invitation "is an indication of the new president's commitment to being president of ALL the people,"]
How pathetic.
posted January 13, 2009 at 11:42 am
This entire lineup of pray-ers is starting to sound like the opening line to a cheesy joke.
So, an anglo evangelist, a gay bishop, a woman denominational leader, and a black activist all walk into the inauguration… Now you provide the rest.
Extra points for working in a rabbi, an imam, a shaman, or a druid.
posted January 13, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Spurgeon wrote “If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by his enemies. It were a sad dishonour to a child of God to be the world’s favourite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout ‘Well done’ to the Christian man.”
posted January 13, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Dawn-
Are you suggesting that pres-elect Obama’s efforts to be the president of all Americans….not just the one’s who share his view is “pathetic”.
My belief is that this is exactly what all president should do…after all….we elect a president to lead our great nation…which we are all a part of.
Peace!
posted January 13, 2009 at 8:12 pm
n Waff-
As a fellow Christian, I have no problem with you presenting your views on Christianity. I do want to be clear (for anyone who may read your thought) that your views are not shared by all Christians.
I very much support pres-elect Obama.
Further, I share his views on abortion….which of course is that the world would be a better place with fewer (or, no) abortions…however, the right to choose is a personal choice…one that we should not be making for others.
I also share his earlier view of same-gender marriage….the one he had prior to becoming a US senator. Specifically, that again this is a choice best made by those directly involved in the specific marriage. And, that we should not be making/perpetuating laws that deprive individuals of equal-rights.
Since I am a Christian….and, not a Paulian….nor, a Spurgeon….I do not share your support of their views.
Peace!
posted January 13, 2009 at 8:15 pm
‘It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout ‘Well done’ to the Christian man.’
You must be talking about George Bush; almost the whole country was clapping for him and shouting “well done” after 9/11, for entirely too long. Imagine if the news media had been willing to entertrain questions about his WMD claims rather than echoing that the only patriotic thing to do was get involved in the stampede to pointless war in Iraq.
Well we’ll see whether they can round up a herd of fools to attack Iran.
posted January 14, 2009 at 10:36 pm
n Waff-
Are we to assume you didn’t vote for Obama? That is your right as a U.S. citizen (I assume). As a citizen of this country, I find it refreshing to have a religious liberal in the White House…after the conservative RR we have had for way tooooooo long. Fortunately Obama can choose who he wants to help him celebrate his swearing in as the President of this great country. And I for one applaud his selections.
IMO your version of Christianity (and this is just my opinion) are way to out dated….but that is your choice. Obama is my idea of Christian beliefs as are many who post on these boards.
posted January 15, 2009 at 1:44 pm
OOOOS…just realized I left my name off the above…pagansister. 14 Jan at 10:36 PM (for anyone who really cares).
posted January 15, 2009 at 4:08 pm
pagansister…..of course we care.
Peace!
posted January 15, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Thanks, JohnQ!!!
Peace to you also.
posted January 18, 2009 at 12:02 am
This just goes to show Obama is neutered by cry babies like Robinson who I’m sure is delighted he can cry his way shamelessly into this sham of an Inauguration. Obama already shows us he is a puppet that is dangled by many strings, a double minded man. He should have stuck to his first decision instead of doing the dance. A so easily shook leader commands no respect from other leaders
posted January 18, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Which first decision” are you referring to, ck? If you’re referring to Warren, please actually read up – the list was drawn up at the same time. Robinson was not a later addition; his name was simply announced later.
And why is the duly elected President-Elect’s inauguration a “sham”?
And in what way is Obama “double minded”?
How is he “a so easily shook leater”?
A “puppet”?
You have always posited yourself as a Christian on this site. Your words are untruthful (reminderr: bearing false witness is a sin) and also uncharitable (aka unloving – 2nd reminder: “Love one another”.)
Hardly Christian.
posted January 19, 2009 at 12:54 am
Your name posted: “You have always posited yourself as a Christian on this site. Your words are untruthful (reminderr: bearing false witness is a sin) and also uncharitable (aka unloving – 2nd reminder: “Love one another”.)
Hardly Christian.”
YN reading me my sins list is a habit with you, and you don’t have the nerve to identify yourself. Stick your Christian meter in your ear. My opinions concerning Mr. Obama are mine if you don’t understand them then read more or something. Hope I answered your questions to your approval.
posted January 19, 2009 at 3:11 pm
As you can see “Your Name” could be anybody, have enough guts to get an identity.