Obama Inauguration: Rick Warren To Deliver Invocation

Pastor Rick Warren, who hosted a Saddleback Church Forum attended by both Barack Obama and John McCain, will deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration.

David Brody of CBNNews adds:

Pro-life pastor Rick Warren will give the invocation at President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration. It makes a whole lot of sense. Even though Warren and Obama disagree on the life issue, they do see eye to eye on many social justice issues. This move is also classic Obama because it is a signal to religious conservatives that he's willing to bring in both sides to the faith discussion in this country. Obama has never shied away from that.

Rightwingwatch describes Warren as "a friendlier version of James Dobson," pointing out his non-negotiable opposition to abortion, gay marriage, and stem-cell research.

The full press release:

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, today announced the program for the 56th Presidential Inauguration, which will take place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2009.

"I am delighted to announce this superb line-up of participants in the 2009 inaugural ceremonies," said Senator Feinstein. "The inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama will be an event of historic proportion. It is appropriate that the program will include some of the world's most gifted artists from a wide range of backgrounds and genres."

The program participants were invited by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and chosen by the Chairman, the Presidential-elect and the Vice President-elect. In addition to Senator Feinstein, the members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies include: Senator Bob Bennett, Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; and House Republican Leader John Boehner.

The order of the program will be as follows:

Musical Selections

The United States Marine Band

Musical Selections

The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus

Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein

Invocation

Dr. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA

Musical Selection

Aretha Franklin

Oath of Office Administered to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

By Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

The Honorable John Paul Stevens

Musical Selection, John Williams, composer/arranger

Itzhak Perlman, Violin

Yo-Yo Ma, Cello

Gabriela Montero, Piano

Anthony McGill, Clarinet

Oath of Office Administered to President-elect Barack H. Obama

By the Chief Justice of the United States

The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.

Inaugural Address

The President of the United States, The Honorable Barack H. Obama

Poem

Elizabeth Alexander

Benediction

The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery

The National Anthem

The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters"

Comments

[pure]

03:07 PM on 01/15/2009

God never approved of such things.Sexual immorality, What we see is a merciful God willing to forgive our sins if we ask and repent REPENT of them the word repent means to turn away from! read Romans chpt 1. God is a Holy God and must punish Sin! We have children that we love dearly but they do things that we don't approve of and when they disobey we punish them. Just because they did it does not mean they had our approval. Look at the condition of the world I know it's easy to blame Bush. But the Bible says that If I I meaning God shut up the heavens that there be no rain or if I comand the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilance among my people if my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land! Look around you the Land is in need of healing His name is not Obama But Jesus! Obama is only a vessel as was Bush for God's plan to be accomplished. My prayers are with all the leaders of the land that they not compromise the will of God for the people but know that healing of our nation is in leading the people back to God.

[FdeBear]

10:22 PM on 12/21/2008

Show your solidarity with the GLT community on Inauguration Day 2009. Wear a White Knot! Spread the word.

[counterattack]

12:25 AM on 12/21/2008

I don't understand why there is an invocation at all. This is a political event involving peoples of many failths. The Democratic Convention insisted upon having Christian prayer every night. I am a Christian but it seems wrong to force non-believers into participating in someone elses faith. This is a Presidential Inauguration not a Pastoral.

[apr19]

01:09 AM on 12/21/2008

I couldn't agree more. There should be no inauguration. This is a state affair and, as such, should be separated from a church affair. This isn't just a slap in the face to gay people (and I happen to be a gay person)-- it's also a slap in the face to Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, etc...

I had big hopes that Obama would enforce a separation of church and state. Apparently that's not likely during this administration.

[politicogal2]

01:47 PM on 12/20/2008

In this time of fear & terrorism, an inspiring story is Eunice Williams, held captive by the Mohawk Indians in 1704. She bridged 2 opposite cultures -- a story of courage, love and peace.

To read article: type "Vaboomer Eunice" in Google or browser search

[Janet-VA]

03:59 PM on 12/19/2008

It's ok for Warren to be at the inauguration or take part in some way, but he should NOT lead the invocation, a highly important, symbolic position. Warren does not embrace civil rights for all. I voted for Obama and want CHANGE, not more of the same. I've waited for many years to see a change in my government toward a more progressive mindset. The inauguration is a moment of transition from the disappointments of the past administration to the promise of the new one. Having Warren in a front seat position on this day does not represent a new beginning to me and many others. It represents the past. I want change, and I want it now. I want to see it in Obama's actions not just his words.

I don't object to Obama building bridges to the conservative right, to being friends with Warren, to approving of Warren's other social justice initiatives (poverty, HIV etc.). There are those who will say Warren's role in the inauguration is not a big deal. I bet a majority who say that take equal rights under the law for granted. It's funny to be told I'm intolerant because I oppose this choice. I've got a life time of tolerating laws that are intolerant of some. I think what I want is the "audacity of hope," nothing short of "reclaiming the American Dream" for all, and I want it to start on January 20, 2009.

[CathrynF]

11:46 AM on 12/20/2008

Well said. Thank you.

[redressingrievance]

01:17 PM on 12/19/2008

I respect Obama's post-partisan approach to governance, which is exactly why I propose that the inauguration prayer should be shared by Rick Warren and Gene Robinson! Now that would truly be in fulfillment of Obama's post-partisan rhetoric! If the equally famous gay Anglican bishop cherished within the LBGT community shared the stage with the right wing Evangelical best selling author, oh what a team of rivals we would truly witness. Obama took a step toward this end with the Rick Warren selection, but didn't go far enough in encouraging real dialogue between the poles of social thought in this country! I want Gene Robinson on the inaugural stage!! Who should I write to next??!!

[NANCI2SING]

08:55 AM on 12/19/2008

FURTHERMORE, I DONT KNOW WHY HOMOSEXUALS FEEL THEY NEED SPECIAL RIGHTS! THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRAIGHTS AND GAYS IS THAT GAYS SLEEP WITH THE SAME SEX! BIG DEAL!! WE ALL EAT, SLEEP, WORK, ARE FUNNY, CARING, LOVING CONCERNED CITIZENS, SO GET OVER IT!!! COME JOIN IN THE INCLUSIVE WORLD AND LET OBAMA BE FRIENDS WITH WHO HE WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH!! ITS NOT LIKE RICK WARREN IS GONNA "KILL" YOU OR STOP YOUR LIFE!! AFTER HE PRAYS HE SHOULD JUST "SHUT HIS FAT MOUTH" AND MIND HIS BIZ AND LET OBAMA LET YOU ALL GET MARRIED AND DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE (WHICH HE WILL DO SO STOP FRETTING OVER PROP 8, IT'LL BE AIIIGHT!!)

[btanner]

10:31 PM on 12/18/2008

Without a representative in this lineup from the GLBT community, then it definitely lacks balance. If it weren't RW, then there wouldn't be a need to balance it.

[missnina]

08:22 PM on 12/18/2008

settle down people! you dont really think this guy is going to get up there and start damning all the gays to hell in front of an ultra liberal crowd, do you? he's a bigot, not retarded. although security will be tight, everyone will still have their SHOES!!!

[tanderson1015]

07:45 PM on 12/18/2008

Man what anger is in this forum. Is this society sick or what? Right has become wrong and wrong has become right. If it feels good do it. Did I just define LIBERAL?

[Alfalafool]

07:19 AM on 12/19/2008

No, you just defined yourself but let's not put a divisive label on it. Just that you show a common predilection for name calling ("sick," "Liberal"), mischaracterization with malice ("if it feels good...etc"), and absolutist thinking ("right becomes wrong...etc") that adds nothing to the dialogue and only escalates what you claim to disparage. Please remember to wipe yourself when you are finished.

[njb444]

07:39 PM on 12/18/2008

Do you think that whining about this pastor giving the opening prayer is going to make us progressives look good to the people on the fence about the gay rights issue? Come on, the whining is only going to turn people off from the gay rights movement, and in the long run, that isn't good. Some of the people here saying that Obama is "endorsing" Warrens views because he was picked to perform some bs tradition is reminding me of the right-wingers' childish behavior which we hate so much. Once he finishes the thing we can all forget about it and move on. In economic times like this, a polarized nation is the last thing we want, and it's against everything Obama ran for. Chill, people.

[jakesinger]

08:23 PM on 12/18/2008

You have a point, njb444: Making jerks of ourselves won't help anybody. At the same time, lying down like doormats never got anybody anywhere, either. I struck a respectful tone in my letter (below). I don't believe comparing gays to pedophiles and people who commit incest is respectful. If the inaugural speaker had said Jews shouldn't own land or African-Americans shouldn't vote, would you expect those groups to say nothing? There is a time and a place to speak up for yourself, and this is it.

[yardley]

07:08 PM on 12/18/2008

This is unbelieveable. i thought the reign of terror was over. A bitter pill for those who suffered through the Ashcroft progroms.

[jakesinger]

03:12 PM on 12/18/2008

Here's a letter I sent to Barack Obama --

Subject: We are not pedophiles, Mr. Obama

I've had faith in you, Mr. Obama. I've patiently awaited your inauguration, even as you've nominated cabinet members who challenge my expectations. I've shared your desire to overcome red-blue divisions, even though that's difficult. But now I'm losing trust in you and your methods.

How could you open your inauguration with a man who compares gays to pedophiles, and calls my loving relationship a sin? How would you feel if I became President and invited a white supremacist to give my inaugural invocation? Someone who said giving civil rights to African-Americans was like giving special rights to criminals and child molesters?

Mr. Obama, are you a child molester or a criminal because your father came from Africa? Well, that's what Rick Warren said about me (in an interview with BeliefNet). I am not a child molester nor any other kind of criminal. I'm a good person who deserves respect, at least basic civility. I deserve not to be insulted by the President I voted for, the President I gave campaign contributions and volunteer hours to. Inauguration day is for me as well as for you.

I hope you'll do good things as President. This certainly is not one of them.

[RuffinReady]

07:31 PM on 12/18/2008

Although I am Straight, I have no problem empathizing with those who are Gay. That is the problem with Rick Warren's statements. He does not seem to empathize with Gays, he cannot put himself in their shoes, and imagine how his comments about pedophilia would hurt. I still am unclear as to whether he truly equates gay behavior with pedophilia behavior, but I do see how he might (or might not) have meant to equate the two. Nevertheless, he did give that impression, and as a reverend, should clear that up. After all, his own comments have hurt a significant portion of our population. As a reverend, representing his religion, should he not apologize for the hurt he may have caused?

I am pro gay rights. I'm fine with marriages that are different than my own. I can allow Rick Warren the space to disagree. But how he disagrees, here, is the problem. It's hard to have disagreements, when others don't play by the rules (intellectual honesty). Surely, that is what we "see", when his discussions about gay marriage include references to pedophila.

[pure]

03:57 PM on 01/15/2009

What does the word of God say concerning man with man and woman with woman Romans chpt 1:24-28 says that it is unnatural. So it's not the opinion of Rev. Warren nor the opinion of man that matters He's only speaking the word. As a man of God he must agree with every scripture of the bible not only that which is convenient. As Christians we love everybody but it's not the person it's the sin we hate. I have a brother nephews, neices that are strugling in that lifestyle. and I love them all equally but I don't approve of it and they know according to the word of God it's wrong unnatural.

[Rayosun]

02:45 PM on 12/18/2008

We at LiberalsLikeChrist.Org are terribly disappointed in Obama's way of walking all over those who made him what he is today. He claims to be "above ideology", but his ideology is obviously version "O" of Triangulation, i.e. "All I need to worry about are my enemies, as I can take my friends for granted."

Pastor Rick Warren represents a kind of religion that makes liberal preachers like Christ sick, i.e. "imposing heavy burdens on others which they wont lift themselves" ( by denying GLBT's the entitlements they take for granted and telling women to whom they are not even related how many children they are going to carry to term and raise, and when.)

Rev. Ray Dubuque

[Compassionpls]

12:56 PM on 12/18/2008

I dont share in Warrens views and am surprised as most of you that Obama picked him for the invocation but I think that we need to take a step back and see the deeper symbolism of what this means. Obama is about unity and inclusiveness. He is trying to build and heal our nation that has been pulled apart by fear of one another and intolerance. He is showing us how to come together. He will truly be everyone’s president. Like energy attracts like energy. And Obama is putting forth energy of reconciliation and acceptance, which is something our country desperately needs. So lets not take this personally and take the higher road that our President –Elect is showing us.