Blogroll, Congress, News

Inaugural Slate Includes Pro-Gay Rights Minister

The full program for the inauguration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden has something for almost everyone. I say “almost” because I’m not seeing any Islamic participation. Maybe it’s just too touchy for someone who spent most of his campaign denying rumors he was a secret Muslim to throw in a monologue from Dave Chappelle.

But the program does include one name that’s been overshadowed by the heavier-weight (and I mean literally — Rick, can we talk? You gotta lay off the cheeseburgers, big guy) pastor of Saddleback Church. Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, will give the benediction.

Lowery: “When you talk about the law discriminating, granting a privilege here and denying it there, that’s a civil rights issue. And I can’t take that away from anybody.”

Rev. Lowery is sort of an anti-Warren, actually…Lowery, by contrast, has courageously supported gay marriage. In 2004, Rev. Lowery told ABC News he supported same sex marriage. “When you talk about the law discriminating, the law granting a privilege here, and a right here and denying it there, that’s a civil rights issue. And I can’t take that away from anybody.”

Rev. Lowery is a United Methodist and has joined the struggle in that denomination for equal rights for gay Methodists to be ordained. In 2000, Lowery gave an extraordinary speech where he called for full inclusion in the body of Christ for all Methodists, gay or straight, saying he preferred to err “on the side of inclusion.”

Those with more in-church experience than me will have to let me know how a benediction compares with an invocation. The full line-up, as announced last week, follows.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced the program for the 10 a.m. service to be held on the west side of the U.S. Capitol. Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” will deliver the invocation. [Aretha] Franklin will perform “Someday We’ll All Be Free.”

Violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill will join cellist Yo-Yo Ma for a new work composed by John Williams.

Alexander, a poet from Yale University, will read a poem, followed by Lowery’s benediction.

Supreme Court Justice Paul Stevens will administer the oath of office to Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts will administer the oath of office to President-elect Obama.

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