Obama’s church choice remains a mystery
By Dave Cook | 04.12.09
Easter Sunday provided no answer to one of the mysteries that puzzles Washington’s chattering class: which church will President and Mrs. Obama select as their permanent home for worship?
The President and his family made the brief trip to St John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday for Easter services.
After the service, the White House issued a statement confirming that the first family’s search for a church continues.
“The First Family has not made a decision yet on which church they will formally join in Washington, but they were honored to worship with the parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Church and at 19th Street Baptist Church earlier this year,” said Josh DuBois, head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
A church close by
St John’s is hard to beat for convenience. The reporters who accompanied the Obama family to church timed the trip from the White House south lawn to the church at 2 minutes. Even for presidential motorcades which zip through town while police block intersections, that is considered a fast trip. The church sits just across Lafayette Park from the White House.
The Obamas appeared to enjoy the service, according to the pool report. The President and his family sat at least six rows from the front of the church. Two Secret Service agents sat behind the President.
When it came time for communion, Mr. Obama led the way followed by Sasha, Malia, and the First Lady. When the first family returned to its pew, Mr. Obama repeatedly leaned over Mrs. Obama to talk to his daughters, smiling widely.
A prayer for the President
The only mention of the President came during the prayers-of-the-people portion of the service. A member of the church staff said, “Guide and bless us in our work and play, and shape the patterns of our political and economic life; we pray for Barack, our President, the leaders of Congress, and the Supreme Court, and all who are in authority; for Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and the Middle East, that all people may be filled through the bounty of your creation.”
The congregation responded: “We are your servants, O God. Guide us in your grace.”
As the Obama’s emerged from a service filled with music by a choir and a brass ensemble, they were greeted by a large crowd, which had gathered behind police tape on the street corner and in Lafayette Park.
Church of Presidents
The Obamas attended St. John’s on inauguration day but had not been back since. Mr. Obama’s predecessor, George Bush, often went to St. John’s when he was in town. Mr. Bush also attended the chapel at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains.
St John’s is sometimes known as the “church of the President,” since every chief executive since James Madison has attended services there. But the Obamas are believed to be considering churches elsewhere in the city, including some with historically black congregations.
A number of the President’s aides, including Melody Barnes, cirector of the White House Domestic Policy Council, have been asked for recommendations, according to published reports.
On the Sunday before his inauguration, Mr. Obama attended the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. He has not been back since he took office.
Looking for a church home
Mr. Obama has not had a formal church home since he broke with Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. during the presidential campaign.
In March, the New York Times reported that the President has had private prayer sessions on the telephone with a handful of evangelical pastors since he moved into the White House.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at Thursday’s briefing that the church the Obamas attended for Easter would not necessarily be their final choice.
“I think the President is looking for a new church, but I don’t think necessarily that the one that he attends this weekend will necessarily be the one he continues to attend,” Gibbs said.
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2. Raffi A | 04.12.09
Obama’s church choice remains a mystery? And so it should. There is a separation of church and state, and so we do not need to know to which religious denominations our elected officials belong. As long as they perform their civil duty well, that’s all we should be concerned about.
4. Marina | 04.12.09
Why are inconsequential things like which church Obama goes to and the new White House dog make such a media splash? I think we have more important things to worry about, and be Obama of any religion or atheist it matters to me not, he is not my religious leader, he is here to fix the economy so let him do what he came here to do.
5. kelly c | 04.12.09
Raffi, you dont know what your talking about. Thats not what separation of church and state means. That is in regards to government setting up a state religion, which is one of the reasons America was built.
6. Alison Woo | 04.13.09
Agreed! Every single decision this man makes is scrutinized, which is fine for public policy. But since this nation has decided we must analyze every single fiber of his being, you can only imagine that before he decides on a “church home,” all the congregants, minister and staff are being fully vetted. Who could really live up to that kind of scrutiny?
7. Cami-Dean | 04.13.09
I just hope and pray his choice of worship is not investigated and picked apart. Everything he does as far as church will be heavily scrutinized and it’s not fair to the church and it’s current members.
Please respect his decision and the church.
Cami-Dean
8. miss B | 04.13.09
Mr Obama and family should drive down to Baltimore for one sunday to The Empowerment Temple, Rev. Jamal Bryant.
9. Madelynsmom | 04.13.09
For this country to want to know every single ounce of detail is not healthy for us, as long as we pray for our president daily that God will guide his footsteps in wisdom of conducting the affairs of this country is our only duty.
The media need to chill out on the type of stories they are reporting,it is not our business on what church this family attends, but we are happy that they are spiritually connected to God. Where they go should not be worried about…
10. Jared ontiveros | 04.13.09
Church and state need to be one thats what our wonderful country was based on and it needs to remain the same. Even though America may appear powerful at times, it is still rotting from the inside.
11. Simplicio T. Soriao | 04.13.09
First, the belief, then the faith to reinforce it, and finally, the church where humanity believes it should reside for the rest to visit and revisit for all times.
Man did not invent religion, yet he finds it a necessity to build a church where the faithful may find repose and quiet to lament the failings of the day as well as to silently enjoy life’s beneficence. And all these will be done in quiet contemplation.
May the President find the right place of worship.
12. T. Thomas | 04.13.09
I love and support our new President and pray that whatever decision he makes as to where he will worship will be most rewarding for him and his family. Maybe he should ask the Pastor to come to the White House for a private service for the family and staff on Sundays. I’m sure any Pastor would not mind that privalige.
14. June | 04.13.09
I fully agree with the following statements…
“The media need to chill out on the type of stories they are reporting,it is not our business on what church this family attends, but we are happy that they are spiritually connected to God.”
“I love and support our new President and pray that whatever decision he makes as to where he will worship will be most rewarding for him and his family.”
However I do want to point out that the President should be referred to as “President Obama” and not “Mr. Obama” (just to show respect).
16. La_Joy | 04.14.09
Why is the President referred to as Mr. Obama? shouldn’t it be President Obama?
17. donteventry | 04.14.09
Simplicio T. Soriao’s hilarious statement: “Man did not invent religion”
Um. yes..man DID invent religion - ALL religions. Don’t even try to put religion on God, Simplicio.
God is not mocked, by you or anyone else.
18. melissa | 05.17.09
I believe that our president should attend a church. no, i don’t think it is required to be a born again christian however, he needs encouragement from godly influences. He has such an enormous job to do. I am only a nurse and i need Jesus Christ’s hand over me for every second. We all need to pray for him in that he will make the correct decisions according to God’s will. We should also pray that he will change his views on abortion as they are ungodly and evil. God Bless you all!
19. George Filchak | 06.17.09
Go to youtube and watch Rev.Jeremiah Wright’s sermons .I would of walked out of that place after 20 minuites.I can’t believe a Christian could seat and listen to that for 20 years.This concerns me.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Joe | 04.12.09
One day we shall have president who does not attend church … which is how this country started. Neither Geo. Washington nor Thomas Jefferson were members of a church.