wfn.org | Church leaders pray with President Clinton during budget debates

[George Gundrey <ggundrey@igc.apc.org>]

National Council of Churches, USA
November 21, 1995
Contact: Mike Maus at xxx-555-1212

CHRISTIAN LEADERS PRAY WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AT WHITE HOUSE,
URGE SUPPORT OF FAMILIES, CHILDREN, ELDERLY IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

 WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 18 ---- It was a moving moment.  At the end of
today's 45-minute meeting in the Oval Office, more than a dozen of the
nation's top Christian leaders joined President Clinton in prayer.  Bishop
Nathaniel Linsey (Cincinnati, Ohio) of the Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church led the prayer as all members of the group "laid hands" on the
nation's chief executive.

Bishop Linsey prayed that God would "make the President strong for the
task" as he seeks to work with Congress in budget negotiations to protect
the vulnerable, children, families, and the elderly.

The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell (New York City), General Secretary of the
National Council of Churches (NCC), explained that the laying on of hands
is an ancient form of ministry filled with spiritual richness.  It
symbolizes the outpouring of God's spirit through those present to one who
is facing a time of crisis.

The prayers were for "a nation in crisis" and "for the President as the
guardian of the nation," said Dr. Campbell.  She noted that they grew out
of the liturgy of many of the NCC's 33 member communions in which
worshippers pray for the nation and its leaders, not in a partisan way but
that each may be given strength, wisdom, insight, and compassion for the
carrying out of the important work entrusted to them.

 The NCC delegation had been invited to the White House by the President
after he learned that the Council's General Board, meeting last week (Nov.
15-17) in Oakland, Calif., had approved a resolution calling on Mr. Clinton
and the Congress to protect the most vulnerable of society as they worked
out their differences over the federal budget.

 Mr. Clinton analyzed the situation for the Christian leaders, who urged
him to be strong in his resolve to protect the weak during the discussions
of welfare reform and budget reconciliation.  The President said this was a
crucial moment in the life of the nation and acknowledged his role as
"guardian" of all of the people.

 United Methodist Bishop Melvin G. Talbert (Sacramento, Calif.), incoming
president of the NCC, presented Mr. Clinton with a copy of the NCC's
resolution on federal spending priorities.  Bishop Khajag Barsamian (New
York City) of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in America delivered to the
President letters that had been written by persons attending the NCC's
General Board meeting who wanted to express their individual concerns.

 The laying on of hands and the prayer that was shared in those emotional
moments by the Christian leaders and President Clinton was "a recognition
in the Oval Office that prayer changes things," said Dr. Campbell.  As the
meeting concluded, Mr. Clinton said, "This will be a difficult day.  This
is a fine way to begin it."

79NCC11/20/95