Public Religion: Sidestepping Pluralism

National Prayer Breakfast drops Muslim from program.

The National Prayer Breakfast, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, quietly reaffirmed its long-standing Christian emphasis in February.

In the shadow of September 11, organizers refrained from including a Muslim in the main program. The omission follows three years of controversy concerning the inclusion of Muslim imams in the program. The Fellowship, an extremely low profile Christian parachurch organization headed by Doug Coe, organizes the event. Senate and House prayer groups are sponsors.

“Several of us wrote letters or sat down with Doug Coe and asked him to reconsider including a Muslim prayer or reading in the breakfast. I guess that he listened to us,” said one evangelical leader who wishes to remain anonymous. Coe was not available for comment. Observers say privately that they expect the event to return to a more pluralistic program in the future.

The breakfast is not officially an evangelical or Christian event. Indeed, this year President Bush referred to his Christian faith only obliquely. The insight that sorrows can bring wisdom and strength, he said, “is central … to the faith of us who find hope and comfort in a cross.”

Since its inception in 1953, the event has mostly featured evangelical speakers and prayers, but Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Jewish leaders have also participated.

In 1999, evangelicals and Jews loudly protested an invitation to Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat. Organizers often face a delicate task when religious intentions intersect with political tensions. During a mostly political speech last year by a Tibetan Buddhist leader, Chinese participants walked out, muttering, “This is highly offensive.” This year, Chinese representatives stiffened whenever representatives from Taiwan passed by.

Organizer John Nakamura defended the awkward juxtapositions. “If you remember that Jesus said love one another, then you will understand these strange combinations.”

The event’s origins go back to 1930s-era evangelistic breakfast prayer meetings organized by Methodist Abraham Vereide, according to historian David Lauch. Dwight Eisenhower hosted the first Presidential Prayer Breakfast in 1953, and organizers later changed the name. Former Watergate figure Charles Colson has credited the event with the birth of Prison Fellowship.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Whitehouse.gov has the transcript, video, and audio of President Bush’s comments at the Prayer Breakfast.

At the breakfast, Bush said that since September 11, he has spent much time praying like “millions of Americans.” Christianity Today’sNovember cover story examined President Bush’s faith.

Also in this issue

The Church of O: With a congregation of 22 million viewers, Oprah Winfrey has become one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America.

Cover Story

The Church of O

Jenkins Gets Left Behind

"Inside CT: Using a Knife, Fork, and Spoon"

Letters

Quotation Marks

Holy Health

"Heather, Dayna, and Clark?"

Let's Roll ©®™

For Better or Worse

Bring on the Pentagrams

King Herod Was Troubled

New Zealand: New Zealand Christians Decry Unmarried Couples Law

Editorial

Why the TNIV Draws Ire

Enough Bullying

Resurrection

'Jesus Only' Isn't Enough

The Long View: The Virtue of Unoriginality

A Beautiful Reminder

One Pilgrims' Regress

Why Do They Hate Us?

Faith-based Give-in

Wire Story

"Presbyterians: Presbyterians Reaffirm Fidelity, Chastity Rule"

Review

Grace Meets the Real World

Review

What Do Women-Ghosts Want?

Oprah's Gurus

Easter in an Age of Terror

Farther In and Deeper Down

The Danger Ahead

News

Go Figure

Gambling: Fighting Chance

Broadcast Bloodletting

Bible Translation: TNIV Critics Blast Scripture 'Distortions'

India: Unwanted Girls Aborted

Turkey: Zoning Laws a Pretext for Harassment

Holy Land Tourism Plunges

Kenya: U.S. Blacks Preach Abstinence Gospel

View issue

Our Latest

News

Black Clergy and Christians Grapple with Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Many say the activist’s inflammatory statements on race should inform how we remember his life.

News

A Sudden Death: Voddie Baucham, Who Warned the Church of Fault Lines

Known for confronting critical theory, moral relativism, and secular ideologies, Baucham died a month into leading a new seminary in Florida.

Why Many Black Christians Reject the Evangelical and Mainline Labels

The history of a prominent church pastored by MLK in Alabama shows the reason African Americans often don’t embrace either term.

News

Pastor Abducted in Nigeria Amid Escalating Kidnapping Crisis

Armed gang continues to hold him after family paid the ransom.

Review

The Liturgy of American Charisma

Historian Molly Worthen studies dynamic leaders, eager followers, and their shared efforts to “consecrate a new reality.”

Inside the Ministry

The Next Gen Initiative

Casting a captivating vision of following Jesus for the next generation.

News

Where Refugees Were Seen as an Opportunity from God

In Sweden, a church continues to advocate evangelism of Muslims, despite criticism from all sides.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube