Who Will Be Obama's Spiritual Adviser?

As I follow the Rick Warren controversy, I've begun to be concerned about another ramification of this decision: Will Rick Warren be Barack Obama's White House spiritual adviser, as well?

Billy and son Franklin Graham have had the role of spiritual guide/counselor/adviser for presidents going back to the 1950's. Billy had influence over the inner-most thoughts and emotions of Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan and Bush I. Franklin had Dubya's ear for both terms. Read The Preacher and The Presidents by Gibbs and Duffy for a full description of these relationships.

Barack Obama was baptized at Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's southside. Obama removed himself from membership last spring when a video of the church's pastor, Jeremiah Wright, using inflammatory language was uploaded to YouTube. It hit the news, caused Obama great embarrassment and almost brought down his candidacy.

Obama has stated that he and Wright were very close, so if Wright had not caused such a stir, he would probably have been invited to visit for spiritual support of both Obama and his family during their stay in Washington, just as Wright had done in Chicago. That relationship is finished now, however.

I would hope that Rick Warren is not chosen for that role. He is certainly a very powerful Protestant religious leader in our time. Nonetheless, he has also shown himself to be inflexible in accepting all kinds of people and ways of life into his spiritual realm. Particularly, regarding gays and lesbians, he has simply rejected the notion that God's grace has touched them and their relationships as well.

As a Christian, Obama could, at least initially, seek the counsel of many Christian leaders who have shown themselves as having struggled in their relation with the Divine, periods of spiritual darkness, and a variety of issues, such as war and peace, homophobia, poverty, sexism, racism, and economic injustice.

Here are just a few Christian leaders Barack Obama could consult:

Tony Campolo is an evangelical minister and professor at Eastern University, near Philadelphia. His politics are are left of center and opposes gay marriage, yet he shows an ability to dialogue about the issuee. (He and his wife Peggy - a gay-rights activist - have had public debates on the issue.)

Michael Eric Dyson, an ordained minister and sociology professor at Georgetown U., is very vocal and clear concerning justice for all people. He is well-known, especially, for his books and discussions regarding race in America.

Joan Chittister is a Benedictine nun and is very vocal and active regarding the role of women in the church and the necessity of interfaith communication. She has also written extensively on the spiritual questions of belief and doubt.

Jim Wallis is co-founder of the Sojourners Community, located in Washington, D.C. He is fair-minded and has reached out to and included all kinds of folks into his spiritual movements.

Carolyn Ann Knight, founder of Can Do Ministries in Georgia, is particularly vibrant in meeting the needs of youth and young adults. Voted by Ebony magazine as one of the 15 most-influential African-American female ministers.

The above individuals simply represent the Christian faith. There are many leaders of a variety of traditions who could fill the same role. Mostly, it is important to realize religion and spirituality are alive and well in America today, so there is a long list of vibrant, energetic, open, caring, and flexible believers of many traditions who could offer our next president spiritual guidance and support.

I hope President Obama is willing to reach out and ask for such support when he needs it - and that it comes from someone who can help him continue his search for understanding the needs of all Americans, as well as his own.
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