The growing alliance of Mr. Obama and Mr. Warren \u201d\u201d each of the two publicly refers to the other as \u201cfriend\u201d\u009d \u201d\u201d suggests that Mr. Obama hopes to capitalize on the signs of potential generational and political divisions within the evangelical Christian flock. For his part, Mr. Warren is increasingly being spoken of as a kind of minister to the nation, a status previously occupied by the Rev. Billy Graham.<\/p>\n
V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, whose consecration caused a painful divide in his church because he is openly gay, said that when he heard about the selection of Mr. Warren, \u201cit was like a slap in the face.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Bishop Robinson had been an early public endorser of Mr. Obama\u2019s candidacy, and said he had helped serve as a liaison between the campaign and the gay community. He said he had called officials who work for Mr. Obama to share his dismay, and been told that Mr. Obama was trying to reach out to conservatives and give everybody a seat at the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m all for Rick Warren being at the table,\u201d\u009d Bishop Robinson said, \u201cbut we\u2019re not talking about a discussion, we\u2019re talking about putting someone up front and center at what will be the most watched inauguration in history, and asking his blessing on the nation. And the God that he\u2019s praying to is not the God that I know.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n