wfn.org | [APD] Adventists Played Important Role in Obama Inaugural Events

[Christian B. Schäffler <APD@stanet.ch>]

[APD] Adventists Played Important Role in Obama Inaugural Events

Washington D.C./USA, 25.01.2009/AR/APD   Seventh-day Adventist  Christians
played important, visible roles in the inaugural festivities and early
celebrations for President Barack Hussein Obama, the first  African-American
elected as chief executive of the United States of America.

Moments after President Obama?s inaugural address, Seventh-day  Adventist
pastor and U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black gave the invocation at  the
inaugural luncheon held in the Capitol?s Statuary Hall on January 20.  The
next morning, Wintley Phipps, a noted soloist and Seventh-day Adventist
pastor, sang at the Inaugural Prayer Service at Washington National
Cathedral.

Black?s two-minute, 148-word prayer was broadcast live. "Lord of all
nations, Whose Kingdom is above all earthly kingdom, and Who judges all
lesser sovereignties," Black began, "look with favour upon President  Barack
Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and members of the Cabinet. Empower  them
with the wisdom, courage and strength needed for our times. And protect  them
from any moral arrogance that obstructs the making of a world of  justice,
peace and righteousness."

He continued, "Infuse them with a passion to act in ways pleasing to  You.
Lord, preserve their families in health and strength by Your mercy and  power
and may they find Your grace sufficient for every need. We ask also that  You
would shower Your blessings upon the American people. Give us the wisdom  to
support our new President with our prayers, patience, and perseverance."

Black concluded, "Bless now this luncheon and the nourishment we receive
from Your bounty. We pray in Your Sovereign name, Amen."

Before the ceremonies, Black noted that an inaugural prayer isn't  something
to take a red pen to, he said. Unlike speeches, prayers are not "another  act
in the drama," said Black, former chief of chaplains for the U.S. Navy  and a
retired Naval Rear Admiral. Rather, he said, prayers ought to be  reflective
and deeply sincere. "I would be very concerned if someone or some  committee
was standing by to scrutinize what someone had passionately felt  compelled
to say to God on behalf of the people for a particular occasion," Black
said.

Black said those on Capitol Hill have heard him pray enough -- he opens
every session of the Senate with a prayer -- to be assured he won't say
anything "out in left field."

Black said some might argue that prayer during state events, such as
inaugurations, is little more than a formality or tradition -- George
Washington initiated the first such prayer after he was sworn in by a
chaplain who used the Book of Common Prayer. Others have gone so far as  to
claim that an inaugural prayer is unconstitutional and violates the
separation of church and state.

However, Black said the country's need for prayer is as crucial as ever.
"The Framers, despite their commitment to keep church and state  separate,
recognized the need for a spiritual dimension of government." Black's
position itself was established in 1789, at the suggestion of Framers  such
as Benjamin Franklin, who Black said is credited with saying that it was
"highly unlikely" for a nation to rise without God's assistance if a
"sparrow cannot fall without [His] notice."

Black noted as many as 35 of the country's 100 senators -- from both  sides
of the aisle -- regularly attend weekly prayer breakfasts and Bible  studies.
Among those who attended, when they were each Senators, were Obama and  Vice
President Joseph Biden, both of whom Black said are "very spiritual
individuals."

Black said he's had the opportunity to interact on a regular basis with
Obama, whom he considers a friend. The then-Senator from Illinois  provided
an endorsement printed on the back cover of Black's 2006 book, From the  Hood
to the Hill.

The chaplain, whose office overlooks the National Mall, said the
"awe-inspiring" view contributes to the "sense of wonder" he experiences
each time he enters the nation's Capitol.

"I have the opportunity to interact with some of the brightest people I  know
of, and they're interested in my opinions on the ethical dimensions of  the
issues they're debating in the chamber. That privilege -- that
responsibility -- is sobering, and very, very exciting," Black said.

Another Seventh-day Adventist who was featured during the early hours of  the
Obama administration was Wintley Phipps, a soloist at past inaugurals  who
sang "Amazing Grace" at the Washington National Cathedral, site of the
Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service on January 21. Phipps was the only
soloist.

"What was particularly interesting was that the Secretary of State, Mrs.
Hillary Clinton and [former] President Clinton were present," Phipps  told
Adventist Review in a telephone interview. "A number of members of the
Cabinet and Sen. John McCain [President Obama?s 2008 rival] and Sen.  Joe
Lieberman were also there. It was a very powerful service. It?s an  awesome
place to sing at."

Phipps, whose U.S. Dream Academy works with children who need help
succeeding in challenging environments, also reflected on what the new
President will mean to a particular segment of American society.

"We have no idea of the impact that President Obama?s ascendency is  going to
have on the hearts and in the minds of young African-American children.  It
is beyond anything we can really calculate or imagine," he said. (With  news
input from Adventist Review (AR), the flagship journal of the  Seventh-day
Adventist Church).

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