posted on December 18, 2008 09:25:05 AM new
Obama Selects California Evangelist for Invocation at His Inauguration
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
Published: December 17, 2008
Barack Obama has selected the Rev. Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor and author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, a role that positions Mr. Warren to succeed Billy Graham as the nation’s pre-eminent minister and reflects the generational changes in the evangelical Christian movement.
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Left, Ramin Talaie/European Pressphoto Agency; Right, Henny Ray Abrams/Associated Press
The Rev. Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church, in Orange County, Calif., and the singer Aretha Franklin.
In a departure from past inaugurations, which usually feature operatic soloists, Aretha Franklin will perform. A quartet that includes Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma will play a piece composed for the inauguration by John Williams, whose “Patriot” resounded during Mr. Obama’s election night celebration in Grant Park in Chicago.
Mr. Obama’s inauguration program, for Jan. 20, was announced Wednesday by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Celebrations.
Inauguration programs follow a traditional outline but also allow a president-elect to put his stamp on the proceedings and set the tone for his administration.
The choice of Mr. Warren, pastor of a megachurch in Orange County, Calif., is an olive branch to conservative Christian evangelicals. Mr. Warren is an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage — litmus-test issues for Christian conservatives. In fact, his selection set off a round of criticism by gay rights groups angered by his support for California’s ban on same-sex marriages.
But Mr. Warren has also been one of the most prominent evangelical leaders calling for Christians to expand their agenda and confront global problems like poverty, AIDS, climate change and genocide in Darfur.
Mr. Warren flaunted his clout this year when he managed to draw both John McCain and Barack Obama to his Saddleback Church for a forum in which he interviewed them on stage about faith issues. He has sometimes angered the older generation of conservative evangelical leaders aligned with the Republican Party, as when he invited Mr. Obama to speak about AIDS at an earlier event at his church.
Following Mr. Warren will be Ms. Franklin, who grew up singing gospel music before turning to soul and pop. She sang at Bill Clinton’s inauguration concert in 1993 (“Someday We’ll All Be Free” and “Respect”) but not at the inauguration ceremony itself.
Next, Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be sworn in by Justice John Paul Stevens.
Then the new work by Mr. Williams will be played by a classical devotee’s fantasy quartet: Mr. Perlman on violin, Mr. Ma on cello, Gabriela Montero on piano and Anthony McGill on clarinet.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will administer the oath of office to Mr. Obama, who will then deliver his inaugural address.
A poetry reading will follow by Elizabeth Alexander, who teaches African-American studies at Yale and is only the fourth poet to read at an inauguration. (The others were Robert Frost in 1961, Maya Angelou in 1993, and Miller Williams in 1997.)
Mr. Obama has asked the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, co-founder with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to deliver the benediction.
The ceremony will close with the Sea Chanters of the United States Navy
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posted on December 19, 2008 11:25:56 AM new
His choice of reverend is really causing a stir within the gay/lesbian and abortion rights circles. He probably should have chosen someone less controversial.
posted on December 19, 2008 08:44:42 PM new
He isn't going to ever please everybody. I accept his reasoning for choosing the preacher. In the grand scheme of things, big deal.
posted on December 20, 2008 06:00:14 AM new
I agree, Profe.
And the poet, Elizabeth Alexander, that Obama chose whould agree. In an interview, she stated,
"No matter how devoted we are to the culture and to each other, we have a lot to overcome, imagining ourselves, or imagining each other. And in receiving each other."
And in another comment she focused on the act of "Moving towards what we love and not just towards the destruction of enemies". She characterized that as a driving force that she feels important to do upon arising every day.
posted on December 20, 2008 06:44:30 AM new
The hard left of the Democratic party would love to take credit for the Obama presidency, but it should be obvious to even the most ardent among them that it was the middle of the electorate that put him in office. It's time for them to stop being so shrill and realize that inclusion is how change will happen. Sometimes their tone reminds me of the religious right.
posted on December 20, 2008 01:29:58 PM new
I think it's wonderful that Obama is being inclusive, with the choice of Rick Warren. It's the way a lot of women I've known in politics pursue their goals. There's just no point in solidifying philosophical opponents in their negative attitudes toward liberals/Democrats.
Magnanimity is gracious--and smart.
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posted on December 20, 2008 09:39:40 PM new
I have to side with Cheryl on this one. I have been shown extreme kindness and generosity this week by my gay neighbors. California's vote banning gay marriages was felt as extreme blow against gays across the country. If Obama can't support them, what else is he willing to compromise on?
posted on December 21, 2008 05:45:37 AM new
During the ignaugration ceremony there is no harm in staying above the fray of culture war. We know Obama's postion on gay rights and abortion. Sometimes with compromise and consideration more progress toward the goal of equal rights for all can be accomplished.
Obama's answer...
At a news conference in Chicago, Obama defended his personal record of support for gay rights issues and said he believed his choice of Warren would help unite the country after a politically divisive election.
"I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something that I have been consistent on, and I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency," Obama said.
"What I've also said is that it is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues."
Obama noted that he picked Dr. Joseph Lowery, a civil rights icon who supports same-sex marriage, to deliver the inaugural benediction.
"There are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented," Obama said. "And that's how it should be because that's what America is about. That's part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated."
