The Democratic National Convention looks different this year as Christian and other religious leaders take center stage this week as part of the Democrats’ effort to show a more faith-friendly image to American voters.
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(Photo: AP/Ted S. Warren)Technicians work around the podium during set up at the site of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. The convention starts Monday.
“Democrats have been, are and will continue to be people of faith - and this convention will demonstrate that in an unprecedented way,” Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee and a Pentecostal pastor, said in a written statement, according to Fox News. “As convention CEO and a pastor myself, I am incredibly proud that so many esteemed leaders from the faith community will be with us to celebrate this historic occasion and honor the diverse faith traditions inside the Democratic party.”
The convention, which officially opens Monday afternoon, will feature its first-ever faith caucus meetings led by prominent leaders to discuss topics important to religious voters.
Faith panel discussions include “Faith in 2009: How an Obama Administration will Engage People of Faith” and “New Faith Voters: What it Means for this Election and the Country.”
Also, every night at the convention there will be an opening invocation and a closing benediction by religious leaders.
In Denver, "there's going to be a lot more" references to faith "than there ever have been," commented Eric Sapp, a consultant who advises the Democrats on reaching religious voters, according to the Wall Street Journal. "As far as the ... Democratic party, this is going to be historic.”
Evangelical megachurch pastor Joel C. Hunter of NorthLand, a Church Distributed near Orlando will deliver the benediction Thursday night when Sen. Barack Obama will accept his party’s nomination to run for president.
Hunter, along with fellow megachurch pastor Bishop Charles E. Blake of West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, are both participating in the convention despite having made clear that they are against abortion, which the Democratic Party supports.
Instead of fighting pro-choice Democrats, the two anti-abortion Christian leaders are seeking to work with them to find ways to reduce the practice.
Other prominent Christians who will be involved in events at the Convention include progressive evangelical leader the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and the Rev. Otis Moss Jr. of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
This year, religion is playing such a prominent role at the Democratic Convention largely in part because of Obama’s own emphasis on reaching faith voters.
From Gospel concerts to meetings with some of the nation’s top Christian leaders, the Obama campaign has made connecting with faith voters one of its top priorities.
“People of faith are being engaged in the convention in a new and robust way, and it’s because of Senator Obama’s acknowledgment that people of faith and values have an important place in American public life,” said Joshua DuBois, the Obama campaign’s religious affairs director, according to Fox News.
The Democratic Convention will end on Thursday, and will be followed by the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis.
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the values party, Im so in!
OK...I admit it...I did it...I gave igh the thumbs up. The part that scares me is I was just thinking that song when I brought up the story.
I'M SCARED NOW!!!
"My point is that we (evangelicals like myself) are compromising ourselves by inextricably linking ourselves to a political party "
On that we agree. Maybe we need to form the Values party.
Gimme that De-mo-crat religion;
Gimme that De-mo-crat religion;
Gimme that De-mo-crat religion;
Its good enough fer me.
It was good enough for bill,and hillary;
It was good enough for ted, al, and pelosi;
It was good enough for white and sharpton;
So its good enough fer me! :)
Ye Hah!
While I have concerns about her being in the position she could suddenly find herself governing our entire country, I will say that despite McCain's shaky record on the issue, Palin is most likely truly and uncynically pro-life. I don't get the sense that she just says it for votes at all.
bob I agree our criteria should be on a persons world view and how they live that out. But as Christian we need to stand up for what is in Gods word and try and elect people that will uphold it. Gods blessing In Christ Tom
My point is not that one or the other is better. My point is that we (evangelicals like myself) are compromising ourselves by inextricably linking ourselves to a political party that so often just depends on us as a voting bloc and often cynically uses our issues to garner votes with no follow through.
If evangelicals had been making the case that the other party was the Christian party, I would be making the same sort of case against that notion. I put my faith in something other than trying to perfect an imperfect world - let's focus on evangelism or convincing people of the beliefs that lead us to our anti-abortion conclusions.
"A pro-life record in the senate means you checked off your box for us evangelicals who are watching,"
It was the liberal court for sure that 'legalized' abortion. It is not a law. The court struck down the laws which protected the unborn.
"And what happened? NOTHING"
The court can take no actions without a case being brought before it. People like Obama have worked hard to keep any laws from being made. All they have to do is attach something stupid to the bill like $10 billion for bridge construction over the Grand Canyon and the bill would die. They could also kill it in committee. It's just the way our government works (doesn't).
Still, BobTX, you made is sound like Obama would still make a better President. You've been attacking McCain for a mistake he made a long time ago. The difference is Obama keeps making mistakes today. You don't have to go any further than his voting record.
Bob that is not true we have for the first time a conservative supreme court and if it was not for the no ethics democrated leaders we would many more conservative judges sitting on the courts. We have a ban on partial birth abortion, (which by the way Obama supports). Plus have many, many new restriction put on abortion and how this murder of the innocent is carried out. Stan to condone abortionâ
If I honestly believed McCain was going to be an anti-abortion crusader, that would change things. I'm not irrational.
My issue is that the Republicans had 6 long years in control of every branch of government (at least close on the court - they appointed most of them, but can't control them). And what happened? NOTHING
A pro-life record in the senate means you checked off your box for us evangelicals who are watching, not that you actually stood up and tried to craft some legislation with a realistic chance of passing and then pushed to get it done. While there are a few very authentic legislators, I think on the whole we have been used for a party to seek power at the expense of our community.
It's different to say in some circumstances a woman should be able to "choose" and actually condoning abortion. Barack and Michelle never aborted a baby of their own as far as I know. Barack confessed to trying drugs as a kid, and knowing his character, he would have confessed to that. I did get a girl pregnant at 15 and we had an abortion. It was before I had a relationship with Jesus Christ, before I read the Bible everyday, and I was suffering from mental health issues at the time. It's something I regret deeply. It's even more important to open up people's minds to the fact that even developing life is precious and when life actually starts is secondary to showing respect to the process of life. The legality of abortion is secondary to opening up people's minds to the harshness of it. To be fair, Senator McCain doesn't condone adultery and neither does Senator Obama condone abortion. That's why he teaches both abstinence and protection as a last resort. But this isn't an issue between abortion and adultery; it's an issue between all the virtues of Christianity you think of vs. all the vices the Lord teaches you to avoid. Some of the vices I see with Republican leaders(not common Republicans) are: looking the other way at torture, rushing to war, greed, lack of mercy and compassion, hateful to others different than them and a tendency to lie to name a few. My mother is Catholic and my dad was Republican his whole life, I'm neither; I think for myself (with Christ's guidance of course).
iwill, At least McCain has a voting record that supports his stated postion. Bob why that's just dumb. We are talking about the murder of the innocent not adultry, something McCain has admitted is one of his failings. Your man is PRO DEATH even, even at the moment of birth not to mention silly guy, his stuanch support for darn near everything that is contary to Scripture. So I state once again. If you choose to vote for someone who is PRO DEATH and ANTI family and call yourself a Christian, take another look you are against the heart of God. Gods Blessing In Christ
Tom
Hey BobTX...the door would have to be closed, right? After all, it's the only thing people have on McCain.
Now Obama's record is pro-gay, pro-abortion, pro-terrorism (we won't stand up to them instead turn tail and run), anti-democracy (leave Iraq to be taken over by thugs from Iran) and the list goes on.
Obama has no redeeming qualities as a politician unless you have no Christian values. Even in the Christian arena he is reactive instead of proactive. Still, we must overlook all the problems of Obama because of a mistake McCain made years ago.
Obama is a drunk pot-head by BobTXs way of thinking and I'm not voting for a drunk pot-head.
bobtx, so what would McCain need to do to put this adultery thing behind him or is the door already shut on this issue?
or is that instigater? o im so language challenged. :P