By Verity A. Jones, DisciplesWorld editor and publisher
WASHINGTON, D.C. (1/21/09) — Sharon E. Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), urged newly inaugurated President Barack Obama to “hold the ground” of his ethical center and the nation’s deepest values, in her sermon at the inaugural prayer service today.
President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with their spouses, listened from the front row of the National Cathedral where the service was held. After acknowledging the grandeur of the inaugural festivities, including “dancing ‘till dawn” at 10 inaugural balls the previous night, Watkins said, “Beyond this moment of high hopes, we need you to stay focused on our shared hopes, so that we can continue to hope, too.”
Watkins called Obama and all the Congressional and administration leaders present to lead the nation down paths that pursue justice and liberty for all, including America’s global neighbors.
At a time when national security is heightened and international threats loom large, Watkins said, “Someone has to stand watch and be ready to defend, and Mr. President — Tag! You’re it!”
The lighter moment was enough to heighten the importance of her next remark: “But on the way to those tough decisions … will you continue to reason from your ethical center, from the bedrock of our best shared hopes?“
Watkins continued: “Even in these hard times, rich or poor, we can reach out to our neighbor, including our global neighbor, in generous hospitality, building together communities of possibility and of hope.”
Drawing upon the words of Emma Lazarus, Martin Luther King Jr., and Obama himself, Watkins affirmed the foundational belief in American culture that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. “This is what makes our country work,” she said. “Surely Lady Liberty can still raise that golden torch of generosity to the world.”
Watkins wove together two images to underscore her message to the new administration. One came from a Cherokee wisdom tale about two wolves that struggle inside each of us: A person should feed the wolf that is compassion, faithfulness, and hope, rather than the wolf that is vengefulness, anger, and fear. The wolf that is fed is the one that wins.
The second image came from Isaiah 56:6-12, a passage in which God admonishes the people to keep the fast that God chooses rather than the one that serves themselves: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free.”
“This is the biblical way. It is also the American way,” said Watkins. “This is the center we can find again wherever we are pawed at by the vengeful wolf, when we are tempted by the self-interested fast.”
Watkins also referred to a document prepared by Muslim scholars in America titled, “A Common Word Between You and Us,” which proposes a common basis for building a world at peace. “That common basis? Love of God and love of neighbor. What we just read in the Gospel of Matthew,” she said, referring to an earlier reading from Matthew 22.
Muslim leaders at the service were pleased by Watkins’ use of a challenging document to signal how Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Hindus can work together.
Sheik Hamza Yusuf of the Zaytuna Institute, a Muslim seminary in California, told DisciplesWorld that he was glad to hear Waktin’s remarks about the document because the American Christian community’s support of it has helped their conversation with European Muslims.
Yusuf praised Watkins’ sermon and said he expected a message that would “bless the power” because that’s what’s heard in previous services. He did not expect her message to be one that would “speak truth to power.”
In addition to the Obamas and Bidens, other powerful figures in the church included Senator Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, and Senator John McCain, along with other senators and representatives and their staffs.
Response to Watkins’ message was positive. Watkins said that she was “pleased that it [the sermon] seems to have been a meaningful work to several people who spoke with her afterward.”
The service itself was traditional and mostly reserved. The Brass Ensemble of the United States Marine Band set the tone during the prelude with Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” The National Anthem and “America the Beautiful” were both sung by the gathered congregation of about 3,200. The Cathedral Choir performed a beautiful arrangement of Psalm 23 by Virgil Thomason.
Rabbi David N. Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism introduced the reading of Psalm 121 in Hebrew. Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Demetrios, participated in the service, as did Ingrid Mattson, president of Islamic Society of America. And Disciples pastor Cynthia L. Hale of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Ga. read the text from Isaiah.
The mood shifted when the Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir led the singing of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Michele Obama initiated the clapping of hands when the congregation joined in singing, while President Obama, the Bidens, and the Clintons all sang along with their hands folded in their laps.
It wasn’t the first time Watkins worshipped with the dignitaries this week. She and her spouse, Rick Lowery, gathered with a smaller group for the pre-inauguration prayer service held yesterday morning at St. John’s Episcopal Church before the swearing-in ceremony. T.D. Jakes offered the homily in that event, described by Lowery as, “a wonderfully intimate service.”
Disciples across the United States and Canada have eagerly awaited Watkins’ debut on such a prestigious national stage. The service was broadcast on CNN and webcast from the National Cathedral’s website.
Watkins was interviewed again by The New York Times, Washington Post, and other major media outlets.
Wanda Bryant-Wills, communications director for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), says that she has been overwhelmed by requests for tickets to the service, which were quite limited, and for copies of Watkins’ sermon. She said that the text of Watkins sermon will be posted to the denomination’s website, www.disciples.org.
Video of the service, including Watkins' sermon, can be seen on C-SPAN.
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