Obama inauguration: Diverse voices at the table
There still is, however, the National Prayer Service at the National Cathedral, where another of President Obama’s choices, the Rev. Sharon Watkins, has made headlines in recent days.
That service is set for Wednesday, with former Oklahoman Sharon Watkins, general minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma and Canada, to deliver the sermon. She became the topic of conversation because she is the first woman to deliver the sermon at the National Prayer Service.
Here are some more details, gleaned from The Associated Press. They suggest that President Obama is keeping his promise of bring diverse voices to the table, so to speak.
In addition to Watkins, there will be Ingrid Mattson (pictured at left), the first woman president of the Islamic Society of North America, who will offer a prayer. The society is the nation’s largest Muslim group.
Also according to The Associated Press, three rabbis, representing the three major 
branches of American Judaism, will say prayers at the service. They are reform rabbi David Saperstein (pictured at right), conservative rabbi Jerome Epstein and orthodox rabbi Haskel Lookstein.
And traditionally the Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington — in this case the Most Rev. Donald Wuerl – leads a prayer, the AP said.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama inauguration: Virtual inaugural prayer meeting
The Oklahomans behind the Prayer Force One ministry, the Rev. Ed Moore and his wife, are inviting people to a virtual prayer inaugural prayer meeting.
To participate in the meeting, which is to occur all day today, click here: Virtual Inaugural Prayer Meeting.
After logging in you will be transported to one of the rooms in the White House. Rev. Moore asks that participants use this time for prayer for America.
Prayer Force One, a bus ministry but also an Internet ministry, also has a prayer guide for folks who can’t participate in the united virtual prayer effort, but who want to be involved in some way.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama inauguration: Pope sends telegram
A congratulatory telegram was sent to President Barack Obama from Pope Benedict.
The Religion News Service reports that the pople sent the telegram urging Obama to “promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations.”
The pope said he hoped that Obama’s leadership would foster the “building of a truly just and free society, marked by respect for the dignity, equality and rights of each of its members, especially the poor, the outcast and those who have no voice.”
“I pray that you will be confirmed in your resolve to promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations, so that all may share in the banquet of life which God wills to set for the whole human family,” Benedict wrote.
The RNS reports that according to Vatican protocol, the pope sends greetings to all new heads of state when they take office.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama inauguration: Speech contained godly references
Barack Obama’s first speech as the nation’s new president contained several references to God and Holy Scripture.
Stephen Mansfield, author of the book “The Faith of Barack Obama,” predicted as much.
Here are some examples from Obama’s inauguration speech:
1. “We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
There are several allusions to Scripture in this passage of Obama’s text. One that stands out is a specific reference to 1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Also: Obama’s text indicates a belief that there is a “God-given promise” of equality and freedom for everyone.
2. “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every End of this Earth; …”
Obama acknowledges that America is a country that includes both people of faith and those who do not ascribe to faith beliefs.
3. “This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.”
A reference to a sense of God-given purpose for America.
4. “America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardships, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that wehen we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
“Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.”
Obama concluded with clear references to God’s grace and blessings.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Obama inauguration: Warren invokes Jesus’ name
In the midst of all the hoopla about megachurch pastor Rick Warrren doing the invocation at today’s presidential inauguration was this question: Will he invoke the name of Jesus?
Well for the curious, Rev. Rick did just that.
Some people may remember that evangelist Franklin Graham ignited a firestorm when he invoked the name of Jesus in his invocation at the 2001 inauguration of George W. Bush.
Franklin G., son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, was filling in for his father who was ill at the time.
Franklin Graham refused to retract his words after criticism became public. He later wrote a book about the reasons why Jesus’ name incites and draws ire.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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Obama inauguration: What do Wright and Robinson have to do with it?
Yesterday, the Rev. Kathy McCallie, pastor of Church of the Open Arms, joined me in the OPUBCO video studio to discuss prayer at the inauguration with another local pastor, the Rev. Paul Blair, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond.
I promised McCallie that I would try to find some information about the prayer offered by V. Gene Robinson (pictured at right), the Episcopal Church USA’s first openly gay bishop, who was asked to offer a prayer at the inauguration kick-off concert on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial.
The Religion News Service sent out excerpts of his prayer, which I share here:
Robinson prayed that Americans may be “blessed” with anger at discrimination and with “freedom from mere tolerance.” Robinson also prayed that God would help Obama “to remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.”
“Please, God, keep him safe,” Robinson prayed for Obama. “We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking far too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe.
“Hold him in the palm of your hand — that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.“’
Meanwhile, who doesn’t remember the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s former preacher at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ? Obama ended up denouncing some of Wright’s imflammatory comments and ultimately severed ties with Wright during his candidacy for president.
Well Wright was in Washington D.C. where he preached at a chapel service at the historically black college Howard University.
According to the Religion News Service, Wright told those gathered at the service that he sees Obama’s inauguration as a sign of God’s providence and the fruit of “the faith of Rosa Parks and the blood of Martin Luther King Jr.”
“The Lord stepped into a scrawny black kid’s ability,” Wright, who is now pastor emeritus of Trinity, said in his sermon. “The Lord stepped into his story and gave him a new attitude. The scrawny kid with the big ears said. `Yes we can. I got a new attitude.“’
Both Robinson and Wright have been controversial for various reasons and yet they have had their say in D.C.
Stay tuned for commentary on Rick Warren and his invocation prayer …
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
How to pray for Obama
Beliefnet.com features “How to Pray for Obama,” written by preacher and author Max Lucado especially for today — Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration day.
If you’ve been watching TV this morning, then you know that Obama’s big day has already begun with much fanfare.
See what Lucado has to say about offering prayers for the new president: “How to Pray for Obama.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Black church celebrates collective dream … and its fulfillment
Those who attended the annual Martin Luther King holiday observance at St. John Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday were reminded once again that the movement led by King and other civil rights leaders started in the black church.
In fact, like King, many of those legendary leaders were and are ministers themselves.
“It has been the black church that has been our shelter,” Oklahoma City Ward 7 Councilman Skip Kelly, said to the large crowd gathered.
Everyone knows the influence the black church has, he said, just look at one of the biggest controversies of President-elect Barack Obama’s candidiacy — his membership at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and several sermons preached by its then-pastor Jeremiah Wright.
The holiday observance was filled with allusions to the black faith community’s sense of hope, an expectancy born of faith in God for a brighter day. These ideas have their roots or foundation in the biblical Israelites’ quest for freedom from slavery and oppression. God did indeed bring them out — parted the Red Sea and lead them to the Promised Land, pastors have told many a congregation year after year.
Sunday was no different.
“We thank you Lord because we believe he’s (Obama) the realization of Dr. Kings dream,” the Rev. Bobby Best, senior pastor of Greater Cleaves CME Church, said.
The choir sang several songs, including “Blessed” — a uptempo song that proclaims “We’re blessed in the city! We’re blessed in the field! We’re blessed when we come and when we go!…”
People clapped and swayed to the music as they sang another verse of the song’: “Late in the midnight hour, God’s going to turn it around! He’s going to work in our favor!”
Meanwhile listening to the speakers, I was transported back to my visit to Atlanta in 2004.
I’d gone there with a group of women from my church to attend a religious conference. We used our visit to take time to see some of the places we’d always heard about — one of them being Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King’s father, Martin Sr., had been a longtime pastor.
Seeing the place where King received his spiritual nourishment, so to speak, I was surprised to see how small the church was.
The church had recently opened a new larger facility across the street, but it was in the smaller Ebenezer where young Martin Jr. had experienced the love, faith and vitality that moves through black churches all over the country.
It occurred to me on Sunday that the power of the church, fueled by God, could not and can not be contained in four walls. It had to and has to propel people to march, to educate themselves, to fight against injustice in all its many forms.
Doesn’t matter how big or small the church is, it is what the people of God do with their faith and the divine power given them.
Former State Sen. Angela Monson said it best. She reminded the audience that Obama has challenged people to serve their communities today when many of them have the day off for the King holiday.
And the spirit of service should not just be one day only, particular for church congregations, Monson said.
“We are His hands. We are His feet so we have to step up to the plate. If we want the change to come, we must be the change that we seek,” she said.
Yes, she said it’s “our time.
“We must accept our calling and do what needs to be done. Say ‘I’m here Lord. Use me’.”
Meanwhile, the words to the song that traditionally ends the annual King holiday observance, seemed especially appropriate, given the hour.
The lyrics to the Rev. Charles Tindley’s song were rich with meaning, as people gathered not just to celebrate King’s life, but Tuesday’s historic inauguration of America’s first black president.
King and those who marched with him sang the song as they trekked for the sake of the civil rights cause:
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome
some day.
I had the feeling on Sunday that, yes, deep in their hearts, many in the crowd, did believe.
They were united with King in that sense.
Israel Houghton at inauguration
Contemporary Christian recording artist Israel Houghton is set to perform at the 2009 Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball at the Warner Theatre on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
I recently interviewed Houghton, who will be performing in concert 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at the SpiritBank Event Center in Tulsa on the “Hello Love” tour with Chris Tomlin.
Houghton was excited about performing at the inaugural ball and said he planned to sing his song “The Power of One” from his upcoming album of the same name. The compilation is set for release on March 24.
Houghton is best known for his songs like “Friend of God” and “Say So.” He is the worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston.
Others performing at the Heroes Ball include Gospel recording artists Donnie McClurkin and Bebe and CeCe Winans.
Look for my story on Houghton in a future edition of The Oklahoman. And for ticket information to the Tulsa concert, click here: Hello Love.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
More on “Faith of Barack Obama”
Author Stephen Mansfield (pictured at right) had much to say about his new book “The Faith of Barack Obama.”
As promised in today’s edition of The Oklahoman, here is more of my Q&A interview with Mansfield:
Q: In a brief synopsis about your book, you said that you think Obama will continue some of Bush’s faith-based initiatives and that he would probably continue some of the policies oriented toward bringing faith in the public square. Can you talk about that?
A: Most Democrat politicians of the last few decades, even if they were people of faith themselves like Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, came into office, they said they had a faith, they talked about their faith publicly, but they also believed in separation of church and state, that they wouldn’t bring their faith to bear in the Oval Office, that they would simply do the will of the people.
Barack Obama is different. Barack Obama absolutely says ‘I am a Christian of a certain kind and I am going to bring my faith to bear in the Oval Office. I’m going to welcome clergy in. I’m going to make a case for some policies from the basis of my faith.’ For example, he says he’s going to continue Bush’s faith-based initiatives. So that’s the difference with Barack Obama. He’s a Democrat and a left-leaning politician who is not saying I’m going to be secular about my approach to public policy. He’s saying I’m going to bring my theological liberalism and my Christianity to bear on what’s going on in the Oval Office and the policies of my administration. He’s going to be as faith-based as George (W.) Bush is, but it’s going to be coming from a different kind of Christian theology, a very liberal form of Christian theology.
Q: Can you think of anything else you would like to add?
A: I think the big thing that people need to be watching is what happens at the inaugural service and the church that Obama chooses. I think the inaugural service is when the president sort of gets to give his theological stamp. There will be some sort of prayer and there will probably be allusions to faith in his speeches. And of course, sometime soon he’s going to have to choose a church in
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
