National Day of Prayer -- Ponderings

Today is deemed the National Day of Prayer. I'll be participating in an interfaith service this evening sponsored by the Troy Interfaith Group (7 pm at Big Beaver United Methodist Church on John R in Troy, MI). This service is an inclusive alternative to one that will be held this afternoon on the steps of City Hall. It is an alternative because several years ago, when a Hindu woman asked to participate in what would seem to be a time for people of all faiths to join together in prayer, she was informed that this is a "Judeo-Christian event," and thus she was not welcome. Oh, she could attend, but not participate. Troy Interfaith Group emerged from that encounter.

Over the past 8 years much has been made of the National Day of Prayer by the past administration, but the current one will be toning things down a bit. Obama will be offering a proclamation calling the nation to prayer, but he won't be holding any services in the White House. Of course there are howls of protest -- from the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a group headed by Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family head James Dobson. It's a group that explicitly states it's intention to "publicize and preserve America's Christian heritage." Thus the idea of it being Judeo-Christian is just a sop to those needing the sense of something more inclusive. It's not!

Indeed, the suggestion that this is a Judeo-Christian event (that in itself exclusive) is a bit misleading. As columnist Susan Campbell of the Hartford Courant puts it:

And even that sounds like so much puffery. Somehow, even the nod to Judaism is missing from a pledge that volunteer coordinators must sign. It says: "I commit that NDP activities I serve with will be conducted solely by Christians while those with different beliefs are welcome to attend."

Volunteer coordinators also sign a statement of faith that includes: "I believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of the Living God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only One by which I can obtain salvation and have on ongoing relationship with God. I believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of The Living God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only One by which I can obtain salvation and have an ongoing relationship with God. I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, his sinless life, his miracles, the atoning work of his shed blood, his resurrection and ascension, his intercession and his coming return to power and glory. I believe that those who follow Jesus are family and there should be unity among all who claim his name."

So, as you can see -- since I'm not an inerrantist, I guess I'm excluded as well. So, while I'm open to praying today, I won't engage in an effort to divide the nation along religious lines.