As you know, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a church. Finding a comfortable theological fit is key. Good music is important, as are activities for the kids. You don’t want to be stuck at a church with mediocre potluck fare. The old adage that 11 o’clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America is still largely true, but I’m guessing you’ll want to find a congregation that has at least some racial diversity. That will be difficult if you want to find another UCC church, which is, as you know, a predominantly white denomination. And let’s be honest: a top concern will be finding a pastor who is, shall we say, not Jeremiah Wright….
Your predecessors dealt with church attendance in various ways. Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school at a Baptist church in Virginia while he was President. Ronald Reagan didn’t go to church at all, citing the hassle of making a church set up security screening for parishioners. The Clintons drove down the street every Sunday to Foundry United Methodist, where Chelsea sang in the youth choir. George W. Bush never became a regular member of any local church, preferring to worship most often at the chapel at Camp David.
Based on the Obama stated agenda, TEC should do nicely.
[i] Comment edited by elf. [/i]
I thought W. was a frequent attendee at St. John’s Lafayette Square?
[i]Ronald Reagan didn’t go to church at all, citing the hassle of making a church set up security screening for parishioners.[/i]
Wrong. Until a wouldbe assassin wounded him outside the Washington Hilton, he and Nancy attended National Presbyterian Church. Subsequently, as a result of security-related issues, Pastor Louis Evans and other clergy ministered to the couple privately. Back home in California, the Reagans worshipped at Bel Air Presbyterian Church (which Evans had organized years earlier). Donn Moomaw was the couple’s pastor at Bel Air.
w.w.
Re # 3
Mark,
I think it was the elder President Bush (the good one) that worshiped at St. John’s. This one has no attachment to TEC.
Under the mercy,
[url=http://ad-orientem.blogspot.com/]John[/url]
An [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj4pUphDitA]Orthodox [/url] Christian
Nos. 2 and 4: I too thought that GWB attended St J’s L S with some regularity–but I don’t know how often, whether every month or two or just once or twice a year; no idea. I base that impression simply on my noticing his attendance there being mentioned every now and then in the press–and no other church being mentioned with the same regularity. I was always a little surprised because George W. Bush is of course a Methodist, like his wife. But I may have read that the security works easily at that church, right across from the White House, they’re used to presidents, etc. And, yes, I knew that he was regular at the chapel at Camp David, right here in beautiful Frederick County, Maryland.
I personally happen to like the Chapel at Fort Myer idea the best by far.
Every single time I have seen a TV news story that included a mention of the current president Bush attending church in DC, the visual has been him emerging from St. John’s Lafayette Square. They don’t mention the name of the church or even the denomination, but St. John’s unusual yellow color scheme makes it very easy to spot. There was an AP feature story about Fr. Leon’s occasional ministry to the president [url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n17146301]here[/url].
I was surprised that the writer of this story mentioned Epiphany instead of St. John’s, though it’s only a little bit farther away from the White House. But I can’t imagine the Obamas making the jump from UCC to TEC, as in my experience, the UCC is much more of a “four walls and a sermon†sort of worship. If that’s what you (and more importantly, you children) are accustomed to, why not stay with the UCC? And yet, I have to cringe at the thought of the right-wing blogosphere’s delighted reaction to the vaguely socialist-sounding name “People’s Congregational Church.â€
Saddest of all is the knowledge that whatever house of worship he chooses, the clergy there will be under a media microscope each and every Sunday. Any impassioned exhortation or prophetic statement from the pulpit will be turned into another test for the president. Does he endorse the minister’s position? Will he repudiate it? And why didn’t he walk out? When it comes to Obama’s church attendance, privacy will be out the window. I hope his new pastor, of whatever denomination, has the grace and courage to put up with the scrutiny.
I predict Gene Robinson will give the invocation at Obama’s inauguration, or will play some other highly visible role.
I predict within the first day or days of the new administration President Obama will order the end of enforcement of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (I don’t know the actual statutory status of the policy).
I predict President Obama will attend a church where Gene Robinson is somehow “of counsel”.
I predict that after nine months or so, maybe a year, his attendance will taper off.
I predict that by the end of his third year Obama will not regularly attend a public Christian church service.
Frankly, I wouldn’t blame ANY President for having a ‘White House Chaplain’ coming IN to the White House as opposed to the POTUS going OUT to a church on a regular basis. If for nothing else than security reasons, especially in times when terrorist attacks are not only plausable but likely.
Peace
Jim Elliott <>< Florida
I agree, libraryjim. I attended a church that had a regular Christmas & Easter “celebrity” attendee (from the political/business realm, not entertainment), and the pile-on during the Peace was always a bit unseemly…the guy was just trying to worship, not collect business cards and resumes and consumer complaints. I imagine it was quite a stressful thing, and I hope he found spiritual support elsewhere, since it certainly wasn’t coming from us. It made me really appreciate the loneliness that must come with any high-ranking position or notoriety.
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Bush had enough ties to St. John’s to host a dinner at the White House for Fr. Leon on his ordination anniversary. Every story about him and church seem to feature St. John’s steps and a handshake with Fr. Luis.
St. John’s would be pretty non-controversial, insofar as it goes. Obama likes Lincoln symbolism, so I suppose he could go for New York Ave. Pres. It’s up to him and Michelle.
I think Marion gives TEC far more than it’s due. The days of TEC prominence in the political affairs of this country are coming to an end. I sincerely doubt Obama thinks of VGR at all. I imagine +Katharine probably sent Obama a congratulatory note…and that he probably replied “Presiding who of the what now?”
Alta,
Trust me, I am not one to over estimate the impact TEC has on much of anything (except the genuine influence of certain TEC elements in East Coast real estate).
My predictions are informed by this:
[blockquote]
11/08/08-11/10/08
Obama Consulted Three Times With Bishop Gene Robinson
During his campaign for the White House, president-elect Barack Obama had three conversations with openly gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson about what it’s like to be a “breakthrough” figure. The discussions occurred in May and June 2007, The Times of London reports.
“”The first words out of his mouth were: ‘Well, you’re certainly causing a lot of trouble,'” Robinson, who became the Anglican Communion’s first out bishop in 2003, told The Times. “My response to him was: ‘Well, that makes two of us.'”
The head of the New Hampshire diocese was in London this week to be honored by the gay rights group Stonewall. He told the paper that his chats with Obama were part of the candidate’s overall outreach to faith leaders of all stripes. But because of Robinson’s unique — and controversial — position, he had particular advice to offer the Illinois senator.
“At the end of the day,” he told Obama, according to The Times, “you have to decide whether or not you are going to be paralyzed by threats and by violent possibilities or whether you just move on and do what you feel called to do despite the risks.” (The Advocate)
[/blockquote]