{"id":117,"date":"2009-01-20T17:18:50","date_gmt":"2009-01-20T17:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/01\/intriguing-inaugural-invocatio.html"},"modified":"2009-01-20T17:18:50","modified_gmt":"2009-01-20T17:18:50","slug":"intriguing-inaugural-invocatio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/01\/intriguing-inaugural-invocatio.html","title":{"rendered":"Intriguing Inaugural Invocation"},"content":{"rendered":"
After much speculation, Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church, delivered the invocation at the inaugural ceremony – a prayer that was heartfelt and true to his faith tradition.<\/div>\n
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Warren offered an inclusive prayer for a nation comprised of many faiths.  “Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all,” he said.   “Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all.  May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you.”<\/div>\n
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You can read the transcript of his prayer <\/a>here or watch the prayer <\/a>here.<\/div>\n
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You may not realize it with all of the controversy surrounding his appearance, but Pastor Warren’s invocation also had the backing of most Americans.  According to a new poll <\/a>released today, more than 60% of the American people approved of Obama’s invitation to Warren to participate.<\/div>\n
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In the days leading up to the inaugural, Barack Obama defended the Warren pick saying “during the course of the entire inaugural  festivities, there is going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented.  That’s how it should be, because that’s what America is about,” he said. “Part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated and that’s hopefully going to be a spirit that carries over to  the administration.”<\/div>\n
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Before concluding the invocation with the Lord’s prayer, Pastor Warren acknowledged that there’s much work ahead during these challenging times:   “And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.  Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all.”<\/div>\n
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And, yes, Rick Warren ended the prayer in the name of Jesus, which is consistent with his Evangelical Christian faith. There is nothing wrong with that.  It would be ironic, indeed, if the government were to dictate the content of the prayer at the inaugural event.  That is not the role of government.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After much speculation, Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church, delivered the invocation at the inaugural ceremony – a prayer that was heartfelt and true to his faith tradition.   Warren offered an inclusive prayer for a nation comprised of many faiths.  “Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-religious-freedom","category-white-house"],"yoast_head":"\nIntriguing Inaugural Invocation - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. 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