WASHINGTON — Every year between 2001 and 2008, former President Bush’s calendar was cleared on the first Thursday in May to mark the National Day of Prayer in the White House East Room with prominent evangelicals.
Now the Obama White House is facing questions of inside-the-Beltway etiquette: Should Obama maintain the open door to conservative critics like James and Shirley Dobson, and if so, should they accept?
Or, will the White House have an official observance at all?
With those questions unanswered less than three weeks before the annual observance, the National Day of Prayer Task Force headed by Shirley Dobson is moving ahead with other plans.
“We’re not the coordinators of that event,” said Brian Toon, vice chairman of the task force. “That’s controlled completely by the White House. We have been honored to be guests at the event in the past, but we have not heard a peep from them.”
In years past, Toon said, a White House liaison has contacted the ministry at least a month in advance to ask about their participation in the White House events that featured music, Scripture readings and remarks by the president and Shirley Dobson.
She and her husband, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, were seated prominently in the front row next to the president and first lady.
The White House, which usually does not officially announce events until shortly before they occur, declined to comment on whether it would even hold an event this year, much less who would be invited.
“Prayer is very important to the president’s life,” said Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, on Sunday (April 19). “It’s too early to talk about the planning around that.”
This year, Dobson’s task force has opted to hold its annual event on Capitol Hill in the morning — at the same time when its representatives are usually at the White House.
“We do pray for the president at our (Capitol Hill) observance and we have asked for a speaker from the Obama administration and we’re waiting for them to get back to us,” Toon said.
He said the group is “not politically inclined” towards Republicans or Democrats, even though early Obama policy changes — opening federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and international family planning groups — have riled Christian conservatives.
The National Day of Prayer was signed into law in 1952 by President Truman. President Reagan amended the law in 1988 to state that the observances would be held the first Thursday in May.
The task force’s work has been criticized in recent years by critics who say the observances have been “hijacked” by evangelical Christians.
Task force representatives counter that their events reflect a Christian perspective but all Americans are free to observe the day according to their religious viewpoints.
“Of course, we prefer that they cancel it altogether and not do anything,” said Rob Boston, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, of any White House consideration of a National Day of Prayer observance.
But he speculated that if the White House does mark the day, it would likely include “lots of different types of religious leaders,” akin to the interfaith feel of last year’s Democratic National Convention.
Prior to the Bush years, task force leaders held more low-key events, including at Lafayette Park across the street during the Clinton administration.
“There was no East Room event until George W.,” Toon said.
While he recalled being at White House receptions with rabbis and imams, Toon said the Capitol Hill event has tended to be “very Christian.”
Other task force-related events will include private pilots who fly and pray over the nation’s capitals and observances at national monuments, Indian reservations and town halls.
If there is no White House event this year, it would be a disappointment, Toon said.
“We’re not politically inclined either direction,” he said. “Our passion is to pray for all of our nation’s leaders and their families.”
But wherever they are in Washington, the president will still be in their prayers, he said.
“We can still do that from across the Mall,” he said.
By Adelle M. Banks
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 April 20, 2009 at 7:58 pm
“Other task force-related events will include private pilots who fly and pray over the nation’s capitals and observances at national monuments, Indian reservations and town halls.”
That’s funny! Will they also send people into the subways and sewers to pray under the nation’s capitals, etc.?
posted April 20, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I am Christian and I truly believe in the power of prayer. I pray countless times throughout the day.
That said, I get the creeps just reading about James and Shirley Dobson…so, I find it difficult to separate my feelings from the actual points of the story.
Peace!
posted April 20, 2009 at 11:33 pm
One word, one lousy word change and this could be eased and the people who are so motivated could get on with it. This is an ecumenical day of prayer. “Nation” dopes not need to enter the discussion. For those for whom ecumenical is a stumbling block, well I offer no solution. It is ecumenical by intent and design. So for all who pray, no one can stop you. But please don’t try to crayon over the intent and purpose by smearing a blush of pseudo-patriotism over it. And don’t try to bludgeon people who are not interested with a velvet covered Bible – pain is not a motivator in things like this.
posted April 21, 2009 at 1:14 am
Christian is not a bad word, prayer is not a bad word, patriotism is not a bad word. None of these things are bad words or things to do or be and the only smear tactics is trying to make them seem bad. I’m a Christian and patriot who prays I’ve got rights I fought for it’s a shame but the bitter won’t make this country better, only worse.
posted April 21, 2009 at 1:15 am
That is me
posted April 21, 2009 at 9:13 am
Uh, who’s bitter, cknuck? Dobson for maybe not getting to rub shoulders with a real president?
Nobody I know of is saying patriotism is a bad word or taking away your right to pray. As to whether Christian is a bad word, that depends somewhat on how Christians behave. But of course trying to get people to believe in fantasies from two thousand or more years ago, fantasies which have no credible documentation, is getting off to a bad start.
posted April 21, 2009 at 10:43 am
ck
You are right, none of those are bad words. Swirling them together in an attempt to make them synonyms is the problem. Each has its own meaning and purpose and should be honored as such. No one is trying to deny you or anyone else anything. At the same time, no one benefits from some false sense of compulsion that all of these must be united.
posted April 21, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I think we ne a National Day of Freethought. This will be a good outreach to us atheists,agnostics,pagan,humanists and freethinkers. Sure it would have to be executive order because no one wants to support us godless individuals, but because we’re minorities in a very religious nation, it would go a long way to democratizing National Day of prayer and would be in the republican image that America strives for.
posted April 21, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Anonymous-
I am Christian and I certainly would support a “National Day of Freethought”. I support the “National Day of Prayer”. What concerns me is that it appears a particular group has hijacked the day and excludes those who believe differently than they do.
Peace!
posted April 21, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Or, we could have a “United America day!” And leave everyone to have their own prayer days in their Churches and homes, as was done before Truman started a Nationl Day of Prayer. A “United America Day” would give the schools teachers the right moment to teach their students what Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The Constitution’s document said the federal govenments job is to establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosterity. Somehow our younger citizens may not be getting this blueprint for a stable America so they are free to pray in whatever church they please, or not to pray at all. We should quit dividing ourselves, as President Obama said, “We should be a United America”.
posted April 21, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Henrietta,
I think we call that “Independence Day”. Good idea to reinforce the concept, though.
posted April 21, 2009 at 3:08 pm
In my neck of the woods, the not-so-subtle message to mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics and other non-conservative-Evangelicals — let alone persons of other belief systems altogether — is that our presence isn’t terribly welcome at local National Day of Prayer events.
Which makes me want to organize a coalition of same to crash the Religous Right’s prayer party at the courthouse and say, “Hello! We’re here! Mind if we join you?”
posted April 21, 2009 at 3:11 pm
jest that is only your opinion one of which I disagree, in me they are all swirled together. I think it is a rising mistaken belief that one cannot go with the other I think one should absolutely coincide with the other that’s what made this country what it is, that is all many heroes on the battle fields had when they made history defending this wonderful country.
posted April 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Will be interesting to see if Obama holds this occasion at the White House as did “W”. If he does…all faiths…not just the Dobson’s version of Christianity…should be invited….and I can see Obama doing that. Of course I’m not sure the “Dobsons” are ready for the Jews, Muslims, Orthodox Catholics, Pagans, etc. Oh well.
BTW, how did the Dobson’s get the “honor” of putting things together for this day? Connections? (to a former president).
posted April 21, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Independence Day is all about fireworks, parades, and picnics Jest! It says nothing about American Unity. Years ago it meant something entirely different than now.
posted April 21, 2009 at 11:32 pm
LC quote: “Which makes me want to organize a coalition of same to crash the Religous Right’s prayer party.”
You could do that or you could juyst take the time to organize something that fits you more. It might catch on, and even if it don’t it certainly would be the higher road.
posted April 22, 2009 at 12:03 am
I think President Obama is a Christian. He has reached over backwards to Muslims, and dictators. He has said he has a lot of similarities to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln encouraged the nation to pray. He should now reach out to Christians and participate in the Day of Prayer
posted April 22, 2009 at 6:58 am
Tyndale-
For the record, many Christians such as myself do not feel included in the NDP…so, to say that Obama should now reach out to Christians….is IMO misleading. What you are asking is that he reach out to this particular group of Christians.
I suspect that Obama will do as you suggest. However, it may not be enough to please some that organize the NDP.
Peace!
posted April 22, 2009 at 5:13 pm
To those who asked how the Dobson’s got involved in “putting this day together”…the answer is they raised the money to purchase the advertising time and provide the materials to promote it. They are not the “official” organizers of the day…they are willing servants who are putting their money and time where their mouth is. That is called “Freedom of Speech” and it is the basis of the conversation we are having here.
posted April 22, 2009 at 6:42 pm
If Obama is too afraid because of certain lobbyist to reach out to this segment then in my books he is a coward walking a
the political tight rope that will in the end sink him.
posted April 22, 2009 at 8:51 pm
For more information on how you can challenge those who wish to exclude go to http://www.inclusiveprayerday.org
Haim Dov Beliak, rabbi and Jane Hunter
posted April 22, 2009 at 11:04 pm
The exclusive stuff is bunk; I’ve almost never been to a national day of prayer function that was exclusive. We’ve been graced by the presence and participation of Jews and Muslim, by invitation (they were not militants looking for trouble and disruption). If it is not to your liking then start your own prayer event on the NDoP. Most of the events I have attended were sponsored (meaning paid for) by Christians. Spend some money that’s all you have to do instead of thinking you should have privilege at an event you don’t pay for. That’s not only cheap but it’s tacky lacking of class.
posted April 23, 2009 at 11:09 am
Well, since the National Day of Prayer Observance has been “hijacked by Evangelicals Christians” in the past, and since “prayer is so important to this President,” I suggest the President invite his own Pastor to organize and lead the Prayer Observance.
Oh, I forgot. The President doesn’t have a church “yet” and thus no Pastor.
Man! The Devil is in the details, again! And this nation just doesn’t seem to have a prayer going for it.
Blessings!
BeliefNetFan
posted April 25, 2009 at 11:42 pm
BNF love your humor.
posted May 7, 2009 at 11:15 am
I agree with Obama’s decision who appears to agree, as I do, with Jesus who said, “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truely I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secrect will reward you. When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard becasue of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father know what you need before you ask him.” Gospel of Matthew 6:5-8
posted May 7, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Regardless of the reasoning for non-participation by the White House and those who reside there, never before has there been a time when prayer and guidance from above has been so needed. This country needs the grace of God and the wisdom for it’s leadership…unless of course they believe they can do this thing by themselves. Hmmmm, makes one wonder doesn’t it?