wfn.org | United Methodist pastor gives inaugural benediction

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Jan. 22, 2001     News media contact: Joretta Purdue ·(202)
546-8722·Washington    10-21-71B{025}

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - A United Methodist minister gave the benediction in
President Bush's inaugural ceremony Jan. 20, as a part of a weekend that had
frequent religious expression.

For the benediction that closed the official swearing-in of George W. Bush,
a United Methodist, the Rev. Kirbyjon H. Caldwell focused on forgiveness,
faith and favor. Caldwell, a self-designated "spiritual supporter" of Bush,
is pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.

"Almighty God, the supply and supplier of peace, prudent policy and
non-partisanship, we bless your holy and righteous name," Caldwell began.
"Thank you, O God, for blessing us with forgiveness, with faith and with
favor."

He asked God's forgiveness for choosing pride over purpose, popularity over
principles and materialism over morals. Caldwell asked for deliverance from
"these and other evils" and for all sins to be cast into God's "sea of
forgetfulness - to be remembered no more."

"... We thank you for faith - faith to believe that every child can learn
and that no child will be left behind and no youth will be left out,"
Caldwell prayed. He thanked God for the "faith to believe that all of your
leaders can sit down and reason with one another so that each American is
blessed."

Caldwell also expressed thanksgiving for "the faith to believe that the
walls of inequity can be torn down and the gaps between the rich and the
poor, the haves and the have-nots, the uneducated and the educated can and
will be closed."

Last, he thanked God for divine favor and invoked it for "President Clinton
and the outgoing administration" that they might go forth in spiritual grace
and civic greatness, and for President George W. Bush and first lady Laura
W. Bush, their family, the Bush team and all Americans. Caldwell asked that
everyone grow in ability to bless God and each other.

It wasn't the first time Caldwell had appeared on the national stage with
Bush. The Houston pastor also spoke during the Republican National
Convention, moments before Bush accepted the party's nomination as
president.

Laura Bush, a lifelong United Methodist, held the historic "Washington
Bible" as her husband took the oath of office. The same Bible was used by
George Washington and several other presidents, including Bush's father.

Standing with Bush as he took the oath of office was another United
Methodist, Dick Cheney, the new vice president.

The Saturday inaugural ceremony followed a worship service at St. John's
Episcopal Church across Lafayette Park from the White House. At that event,
another United Methodist pastor, the Rev. Mark Craig of Highland Park United
Methodist Church, Dallas, presented the message for the inaugural parry.
The Bushes are members of Highland Park, but attended Tarrytown United
Methodist Church while living in Austin, Texas.

On Sunday morning, Jan. 21, Craig read the New Testament scripture lesson
from 1 John 4:7-8 at a special service in the National Cathedral, and
Caldwell delivered a prayer. Besides President Bush, those who attended that
service included United Methodist Bishop Felton E. May of the denomination's
Washington Area. The new president had declared the day to be a Day of
Prayer and Thanksgiving.

Bishop William B. Oden of the United Methodist Church's Dallas Area,
president of the denomination's Council of Bishops, was an invited guest at
the inauguration.

The Rev. Franklin Graham, standing in for his father, the Rev. Billy Graham,
offered the invocation at the inaugural ceremony and preached at the Sunday
morning service. Also participating in the service were people from the
Jewish, Eastern Orthodox Christian, Catholic and other Christian traditions.

# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org