Obama to speak at Rick Warren's Church

[Perky]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0611150111nov15,1,4870316.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

WASHINGTON -- Like many fellow Democratic politicians, Sen. Barack Obama is no stranger to the pulpit.

But in December, Obama will go where few progressive Democrats usually venture--to a large, conservative evangelical church that boasts a Sunday attendance of more than 20,000 people.

Even more unusual is that he'll attend at the invitation of megachurch Pastor Rick Warren, evangelical icon and author of the popular Christian book "The Purpose-Driven Life."

Aides to Obama say he will appear at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, drawing attention to the kind of issue that the senator from Illinois says should unite all people of faith, regardless of their particular religion.

"Sen. Obama has a deep respect for Mr. Warren's commitment to fighting AIDS and poverty," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "They met in January of 2006 while Mr. Warren was in Washington and have become friends, speaking on the phone with some regularity."

While he was working on his latest book, "The Audacity of Hope," Obama asked Warren to help by reading one of his draft chapters. Warren issued the invitation to Obama to speak at the church next month.

The messages that Friday will focus on AIDS and HIV, a key area of ministry for Saddleback Church. While many conservative Christians have shied away from AIDS because of their discomfort with its connections to premarital sex and homosexuality, Warren and his wife, church co-founder Kay Warren, have been vocal advocates for patients living with the disease.

Shortly before the release of his latest book, Obama issued a call to progressives to shed bias against religious people and to recognize "overlapping values."

Obama is considering a possible run for president in 2008.

[Bluebear]

1. Warren still thinks being gay is "wrong", though.

He also is anti-choice and anti-stem cell research and backed Bush in '04. It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Obama gets at that church.

[bklyncowgirl]

2. You don't win converts by preaching to the choir.

This is a good idea and Obama is a good choice to do it.

[Perky]

3. I have always thought Warren was dispensing theoological pablum

but then I found out that he takes no profits from his book, gives all of it away and is very pro-environment.

His writinh is still pablum, but he does some good work.

[Bluebear]

4. Pro-environment is good but he is a Republican endorser, after all. nt

[ellacott]

5. Rick Warren is actually in the Political Center

He is not very active politically. He believes in many liberal principles along with some conservative principles.

[Perky]

6. And he gives most of his proceeds away

The extraordinary wealth created by the remarkable sales of The Purpose Driven Life has caused Warren to make commitments to ensure that the money does not change him, he told the pastors.

He and his wife agreed that they would not change their lifestyle, in spite of the financial windfall; they would pay back every dollar Saddleback Church has paid him in 24 years of ministry; they set-up three foundations to use the sales proceeds – none of which he is taking for personal use; and the Warrens are now “reverse tithers” – giving 90 percent to ministry and keeping just 10 percent for themselves.

“I don’t think God gives money or fame for your own ego,” Warren said, adding that he has told God, “Obviously, this is Your money God and this is Your platform, so what do You want me to do with it.”

The stewardship of affluence and the stewardship of influence are two principles Warren said he believes God wants him to live in the light of his book’s success, noting that offers are regularly coming in from government, the business world, and even Hollywood, seeking Warren’s help in understanding The Purpose Driven Life.

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/2523.article

[xchrom]

7. i have no love for warren or the whole ''rapture crew'' --

it's as bad as ''predestiny'' and sets up a mind set of exceptionalism.

more -- these people are real enemies to gay folk. period.

and i no longer have any wish to make nice with people who -- since reagan -- have been driving this country to the very brink of real civil unrest.

[greenman3610]

8. Evangelicals are showing movement on environment

many of them have sons, daughters, relatives who are
gay. What's to say that once they venture out of the
GOP noise machine, how they might change?

Obama is right to go. All of us need to not be
afraid to talk to fundamentalists.