wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Obama national prayer service: Watkins preaches compassion and love

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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 21/01/2009 16:55:00

COMPASSION AND LOVE PREACHED AT OBAMA NATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE

In her sermon at the first prayer service attended by US President Barack  Obama after his inauguration, Rev. Dr Sharon Watkins, general minister and  president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), called on the  leader who, she said, would "set the tone" for the nation, to chose  compassion, faithfulness and love over vengefulness, anger and fear.

Preaching at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on 21 January,  Watkins, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee,  said: "Even in these hard times, rich or poor, we can reach out to our  neighbour, including our global neighbour, in generous hospitality,  building together communities of possibility and of hope."

In a 20 January letter to President Obama, representatives of WCC member  churches in the United States, declared that they wanted to "roll up  [their] sleeves and partner with [Obama] to help bring about the changes  that are so desperately needed for the United States and the world to more  closely reflect God's vision for humankind and all of creation."

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia assured Watkins of the  Council's joy and pride over her role as preacher in the inaugural  service. Watkins is the first woman to fulfil this responsibility in US  history. With regard to domestic and international challenges that will  have to be addressed by the new administration, he wrote in a 19 January  letter: "Your prayers will be much needed."

Watkins' sermon took on a recent suggestion by Muslim scholars worldwide  for love of God and love of neighbour as "common basis for building a  world at peace", explaining that the best way to express love of God "is  by facing hard times with a generous spirit: by reaching out toward each  other rather than turning our backs on each other."

Full text of Rev. Dr Sharon Watkins' sermon:

http://oikoumene.org/fileadmin/wcc-usa/files/2009/Obama_NPS_sermon_Watkins. pdf

Additional information:

Juan Michel +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness  and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of  churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant,  Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million  Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman  Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from  the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.