Obama Picks Camp David Church -- Not a D.C. Congregation

[kpete]

Source: TIME Magazine

By AMY SULLIVAN Amy Sullivan – 1 hr 36 mins ago

For the past five months, White House aides and friends of the Obamas have been quietly visiting local churches and vetting the sermons of prospective first ministers in a search for a new - and uncontroversial - church home. Obama has even sampled a few himself, attending services at 19th Street Baptist on the weekend before his inauguration and celebrating Easter at St. John's Episcopal Church.

Now, in an unexpected move, Obama has told White House aides that instead of joining a congregation in Washington, D.C., he will follow in George W. Bush's footsteps and make his primary place of worship Evergreen Chapel, the nondenominational church at Camp David. (See pictures of Barack Obama's family tree.)

A number of factors drove the decision - financial, political, personal - but chief among them was the desire to worship without being on display. Obama was reportedly taken aback by the circus stirred up by his visit to 19th Street Baptist in January. Lines started forming three hours before the morning service, and many longtime members were literally left out in the cold as the church filled with outsiders eager to see the new President. Even at St. John's, which is so accustomed to presidential visitors that it is known as the "Church of the Presidents," worshippers couldn't help themselves from snapping photos of Obama on their camera phones as they walked down the aisle past him to take communion.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090629/us_time/08599190761000

[JerseygirlCT]

1. In light of all that, that's a wise decision.

A shame that's how it has to be, but totally understandable.

[izquierdista]

2. Without being on display

I believe there is even a Biblical passage urging people to do exactly that. Imagine that everyone did that. Imagine that they didn't all collect in a big building on Sundays to compare clothes. Imagine there's no heaven.....

[Dr_Willie_Feelgood]

7. Athiests quoting John Lennon...

Remember, he sang "IMAGINE there's no heaven", not "There's no heaven".

Another interesting quote from John Lennon, in regards to the "Beatles are bigger than Jesus" flap.

"It's just an expression meaning the Beatles seem to me to have more influence over youth than Christ. Now I wasn't saying that was a good idea, 'cause I'm one of Christ's biggest fans. And if I can turn the focus on the Beatles on to Christ's message, then that's what we're here to do."

If Barack Obama chooses to be a man of faith - isn't that HIS business? Atheism is NOT a prerequisite to a progressive, constructive philosophy.

[Zhade]

13. Yeah, but he just said imagine so believers wouldn't get huffy and offended.

He was a very inclusive man.

As long as Obama doesn't ignore the separation of church and state, he can believe whatever he wants to believe.

[catrose]

3. Is there a Sunday School for the girls?

[Lost-in-FL]

6. Don't they go to school on the weekdays? nt

[WorseBeforeBetter]

11. Yes, and they can sing in the choir in AND perform in the Christmas pageant. (n/t)

[lamp_shade]

4. SEE? BUSH TWO !!!!

:sarcasm:

[PSPS]

5. * Sigh * I wish "what church the president chooses to attend" weren't a newsworthy event.

[MicaelS]

10. Every single thing POTUS does is a newsworthy event

That's just the way it is.

[Vidar]

8. Playing it safe, which is a good idea regarding religion.

[cbdo2007]

9. Good! Best of luck to the Obama's!!!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

12. People are idiots.

"...worshippers couldn't help themselves from snapping photos of Obama on their camera phones as they walked down the aisle past him to take communion."

[No Elephants]

14. It's a personal decision and should be private. (But it isn't, so did it have to be W's church?)

[goclark]

15. The Security arrangements there are probably much better

It's hard to screen people as they come in to worship.

Hope they can go to church without snapping photos ~ that is crazy.