Pastors offer their suggestions for who would have been a better choice to pray at Inauguration

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

Barack Obama already has a controversy on his hands.

Even before taking office Obama's choice of Rick Warren -- pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. -- to deliver a prayer for the presidential inauguration has stirred debate.

Although best-known for his book "The Purpose-Driven Life," Warren campaigned for Proposition 8 in California, which outlawed same-sex marriage. Although Warren has supported anti-poverty programs and AIDS relief, he is now associated with being a vocal opponent of gay unions.

(snip)

The Rev. Emory Byrum, of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Belvidere, who is gay, says the Rev. Luis Leon of St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., -- a church that President Bush sometimes attends -- would have been a better choice than Warren.

"I am sure Obama will follow the tradition of other presidents to at least have an occasional worship experience there," he says. "And Leon is just one pastor that comes to mind. There are a lot of great pastors around the country that people wouldn't find as offensive."

(snip)

But the controversy over Warren at the inauguration may be short-lived, Byrum says. What probably won't be short-lived is the issue of gay marriage, he says.

"The selection of Warren can be interpreted as a slap in the face for us that hold a different position, but it hasn't changed my feeling about Obama. I don't think it's going to make any difference because there's a movement toward gay marriage which will bring civil rights and this won't preclude that. Sooner or later it's going to happen."

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/entertainment/index.ssf?/base/living-0/1231995986163520.xml&coll=3

One reason I offer this and the excerpts is because Emory is my pastor and beloved friend, as is Emory's SO.

On Emory's certificates of ordination, it mentions "His sober discussion". I think that truly encapsulates him. Advice and counsel from him is always measured, sober and spot-on. Even when he has his black-leather chaps on under his vestments(In joke ;-) ). I am truly blessed to have him and his SO in my life as friends. He even gave my mother her last communion at 3:00PM in the afternoon. She passed on at 10:15 that evening.

The GLBTI community could not have a better person speaking for them, in any forum.

[Chovexani]

1. At this point I think even Father Guido Sarducci would be a better choice.

In seriousness though, you are lucky to have such a good pastor. If you are any sort of believer, no matter what faith you are, it's always so important to have someone like that whom you can go to for guidance. I try to get wisdom wherever I can find it.

I love to hear about LGBT spiritual leaders, regardless of their faith tradition. To me it evokes that ancient belief from a lot of cultures that being queer made it easier to go between the physical world and the spirit world (a lot of Indian cultures have this concept called Two Spirit that is similar).

It's interesting to me in a sad way that there are Christian denominations (and, in fairness, other traditions) that would deny the voice of LGBT and women as teachers and spiritual leaders when in ancient times we were considered great teachers. It's like they are denying we are sacred, as straight men are. I think a lot of this garbage goes back to that Augustinian idea that women don't have souls, TBH.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. What he does, in the way of counseling of GLBTI youth...

Very quietly, very confidentially, is something that amazes me. He has really helped a lot of kids. There is a loose GLBTI network out there that reaches out to him when a kid needs someone to help them sort out themselves.

[mtnester]

3. Our UCC pastor would have been wonderful too

her face simply glows when she prays, she is gentle and funny and her slight smile while she does is very comforing and wonderful.

Too bad he went for the shiny object....sigh.

[bluedawg12]

4. There were many other choices that would have reaffirmed gay clergy and pro-gay clergy

it's a swipe at them too.