We received this email from Bishop Robinson this morning:
I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, “We are One,” to be held at the Lincoln Memorial, Sunday, January 18, at 2:00 pm. It will be an enormous honor to offer prayers for the country and the new president, standing on the holy ground where the “I have a dream speech” was delivered by Dr. King, surrounded by the inspiring and reconciling words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. It is also an indication of the new president’s commitment to being the President of ALL the people. 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.
+Gene
I'm quite pleased to hear that Bishop Gene will be so honored. Obama redeems himself somewhat for the choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation on Inauguration Day. I hope that he won't restrict himself to choosing Christians for all the prayers.
Thanks to Renz and others for sending this in.
UPDATE:
As for himself, [Bishop] Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible.
"While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans," Robinson said. "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."
Robinson said his prayer will be reflective of the times.
"I think these are sober and difficult times that we are facing," he said. "It won't be a happy, clappy prayer."
From the Concord Monitor via TPM
Just posted my own praise of this decision, Grandmere. And you make an excellent point: While some of us seek God through the doorway opened by Christ, God's a whole lot bigger, and I believe has used many means, and many ways to bring us home. And I hope Obama will make way for other religious perspectives to participate in this historic occassion.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased to read of this; thanks for posting the news!
ReplyDeleteWhile I am very happy to read this, as an alien :-), I am very confused. Elsewhere I have read of the woman leader of some other church group giving the sermon at some service ( I thought the day after). Is this the same service? Even as a committed Christian I do not see why there are so many official Christian roles for a so called secular state. If we do have a state religious service (say after a national tragedy like the Bali Bombing) it is usual to have the leader (or representative) of the Catholics, Anglicans, Uniting (leading other church) as well as a Rabbi, Imam and, increasingly, a Buddhist leader present. This is a country which is often criticised for financially supporting church run schools and hospitals.
ReplyDeleteBrian, it would suit me if the prayers were not included in the inauguration ceremonies. As I've said before, if prayers there must be, then Obama should include a rabbi, an imam, and a Buddhist leader the prayers.
ReplyDeleteI was happy to read this news too.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, have a lovely trip. Big Bronte sisters fan that I am, I am quite envious.
I have spent about 2 decades living abroad. While I have spent a fair amount of time explaining US issues, most people understand that we citizens are not the government. You will be a splendid example of an American.
Enjoy!
Oh, they are having a shark fest in Viagraland over this quote. They want 'happy, clappy' prayer. Pity. Not going to happen with 'our Gene.' No happy, clappy bishop is he.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, those folks are pathetic. That's what they live for, trolling the news and the internet in attack mode looking for a tasty morsel to chew on. It's sickening.
ReplyDelete...and, one way or another, he (+Gene) will remember Marian Anderson, 1939...this President-elect is so in-touch with history that we can, confidently, give thanks to...?...
ReplyDeletefor that "?"....I think I was trying to come up with, "the God of history".....
ReplyDeleteCatherine, thank you for your kind words. I hope I won't be the ugly American. I don't think that I ever have been in my travels outside the US, but I've seen a few in my time who embarrassed me terribly.
ReplyDeleteScott, we will see many historic firsts in Obama's inauguration. I pray he and the Congress do right by us for the next four years.
grandmere,
ReplyDeleteMay the Spirit add a blessing to the praying of your prayer.
Of course, we will not see the Lincoln Memorial ceremony in it's entirety on TV, unless they have it all on cspan or Public TV. But the "highlights" will be on the news... That means, as always, it will be cherry picked(sound familiar?) for the best and most newsworthy(what's the word I'm searching for? Oh yes, most controversial) sound bites. And Gene will be excoriated for not sounding Christian enough by the Viagraville crowd.
ReplyDeleteBut I am glad he will be there. Brian, the Lincoln Memorial ceremony will be on Monday, the Inauguration on Tuesday, and I believe the Prayer Service where the woman who is head of the Disciples of Christ will be is at The National Cathedral on Wednesday. The National Cathedral is really the Episcopal Cathedral of Washington DC diocese, and I believe it is called The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul.
PEN many thanks. I could make a slip.
ReplyDeleteSusan, C-SPAN may carry the entire ceremony.
+Gene gave a wonderful interview (doesn't he always? *g*) on NPR today, explaining that he's learning from past inaugural invocations what NOT to do. No to a "Christians Only" prayer, Yes to "the God of our many understandings" (ala the 12 Steps): Right On!!! :-D
ReplyDeleteJCF, yes. I'm going to check that interview out, because I want to hear it. He IS always good in his interviews.
ReplyDelete