Bishop Robinson’s prayer not broadcast at inaugural concert
Photo from Episcopal Life, courtesy of HBO
The firestorm in the blogosphere about Bishop Gene Robinson’s invocation at the inaugural kickoff “We are One” concert just won’t quit. The most recent point of contention is why Bishop Robinson’s prayer was not broadcast on HBO–or even heard on NPR for that matter.
The latest news I can get my hands on indicates that the entire concert, including Bishop Robinson’s speech, will be played on those huge outdoor TV screens on Tuesday morning to entertain everyone who gathers in the Washington Mall before the Inauguration ceremony itself. If this is meant as an apology, I have a feeling it’s not going to satisfy anyone. Why invite the man if you’re not going to let him be heard? Could it really be a simple oversight or technical error, given the incredibly high-wattage, celebrity-filled, professionally-produced nature of this event? At the very least it seems to me a major gaffe, and one that somewhat tarnishes what could have been an unabashedly joy-filled celebration for all Americans.
The content of Robinson’s prayer has been another point of contention. I have found some of the Bishop’s public statements since he was chosen for this honor a little less than gracious and inspiring s (most readers will remember that the choice of Robinson was seen as a conciliatory gesture after Obama picked the Rev. Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation–if this whole sage really interests you, check out the San Francisco chronicle article on the “new evangelicals” that contextualizes much of this controversy in a readable and reasonable way). I heard someone on the radio today say that, even though she agreed with most of Robinson’s sentiments, she thought that this was neither the time nor the place to express them. She thought it was a downer to talk about what still needs to change in our country, rather than focusing on how far we’ve come.
I don’t know about that. Personally I imagine I would have struck a different tone, had I been given the opportunity to pray so publicly for the new president and his administration. But if we can’t be honest and raw and fully engaged in the complexities of life while in the midst of prayer, when can we be? I thought it was gutsy and insightful of the bishop to ask God to bless this nation with tears, anger, and discomfort, as well as with the more commonly desired blessings of humility, compassion, and freedom. I was touched by those things he asked for on behalf of “your child, Barack,” including the reference to his daughters’ childhoods. And I most fervently join in the final entreaty of his prayer, which read:
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking far too much of this one. We implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand, that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity, and peace. Amen.
Amen indeed.
Pamela Dolan is on staff at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves and is a Candidate for Holy Orders. After high school in Hawaii and college in California, she earned a master's degree in theology from Harvard before spending several years in New York studying medieval religion and literature. Pamela is married with two children. 
Bishop Robinson’s remarks were broadcast on NPR “Talk of the Nation” today. Granted a day late and a dollar short, but they were aired.
The explanation that people were tuned to HBO to hear a concert, and not a sermon seemed reasonable to me,though I’m not Episcopal, and don’t have cable. How often do you *really* listen to the SSB at a sporting event?
I don’t see that this is major deal– but then again,I’m not going to listen to the other guy tomorrow, either.
Thanks, I missed it on NPR today. I was listening yesterday and was really excited to hear what Bishop Robinson had to say, and was disappointed not to hear it live. But I have not seen anything from HBO explaining it as a simple programming decision, which I would certainly understand even if I didn’t agree. What I read was HBO saying it was entirely the decision of the Presidential Inauguration Committee to leave Bishop Robinson out, which seems to me a different matter entirely. I’m not in a lather about it, but I do think it was a mistake.
Joy-filled celebration for all Americans? How typical of the liberal media to assume that all Americans are as thrilled about Obama as they are. Obama is way out in left field on a lot of issues, and pretty soon we are going to see his William Ayers-influenced agenda in action. God help us.
As for Robinson, I don’t think it was an error at all. He WAS invited to pacify certain people, and as the inauguration neared and the excitement mounted, it became easy to push him to the side and conveniently blow him off. HBO, for their part, probably made the decision based on ratings perceptions in what is no doubt a heavily contested week for market share numbers. Playing the concert on the Mall means nothing since most people will be focused elsewhere. Given the content of his prayer I don’t think it is that big of a loss anyway.
The thing I probably do agree with Pam on is that his prayer should not be criticized just because it was not full of fluffy thanks and smiles. Please note that I find a lot of it obvious in its slant to liberal ideas, but kudos for him for having the guts to go that route.
Several things in his prayer were dubious. Obama’s “own oppression as a minority”? Please. “Bless us with discomfort at the easy, simplistic answers we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians” at a prayer for a guy that ran on CHANGE? Nice. The “personal and common sacrifices” should have been said as the tax increase we will all get to pay for a trillion bucks in new spending on just the first major bill of his Presidency.
A prayer that is not “especially Christian”…what an interesting choice of words Rev. Gene…
In all sincerity, according to scripture, would any Christian truly believe that the prayers of this Bishop was heard in Heaven by God or Christ? I personally do not think his words was nothing but noise that pleased the enemy of our world.
Bishop Robinson long ago abandoned the time honored truths of Christianity for secular political thought.
I think the bigger story is that this event was purchased by HBO and not all Americans could watch it (those that don’t have digital tv). Money seems to have ruled the day for the inaugural events. Couldn’t the money have been better spent on the homeless or other worthwhile causes?
As for the Bishop, if his prayer was the only event not aired, it was purposefully done.
I think Logicprevails has a very valid point about the limited access to the whole event. It seems quite against the grain of the Obama campaign’s “grassroots” image for them to sell broadcast rights to the highest bidder. I don’t have HBO or digital TV either and so was planning to catch the whole thing on the radio.
Tim, we’re never going to agree on Obama, but I’m nonetheless going to stand by my statement that this could have been a joy-filled event for all Americans. It’s worth noting that the new President has an 80 plus percent approval rating, but even those Americans who don’t approve of his proposed policies or his personality or whatever can certainly be joyful about our peaceful transfer of power and the historic nature of inaugurating our first African American president. I don’t think that my opinion is shared only by members of the “liberal media,” given that the Rev. Rick Warren said almost exactly the same thing today in his invocation.
D. Walker, it pains me when anyone presumes to say that God would refuse to hear someone else’s prayers. God hears all our prayers. Prayer is not a football game, with God taking sides and plugging up His ears when “the other side” prays. Scripture tells us that God can hear even our unspoken prayers, the sighs too deep for words. Bishop Robinson was not praying for himself but for the good of the nation, as best he understands it.
Christ didn’t believe any sinner was beyond the reach of his love and forgiveness (and we are ALL sinners); no matter how much one disapproves of the Bishop, it is uncharitable in the extreme to pronounce such a blanket condemnation on him.
Fair enough Pam, but one thought here: I have experienced enough inaugurations through the U.S. media to recognize the incredible difference in depth and breadth in coverage for Clinton and Obama as compared to Reagan and either Bush. That chasm is too big to be honestly ignored.
Guess what? My approval rating is around 95%. I’ve said all the right things and haven’t had to do anything either. My transition to power was also peaceful like EVERY SINGLE OTHER TIME it has ever happened…
Pamela Dolen,
I agree with you that there is hope for all even this Bishop if he turns away from His sinful lifestyle and agree with and accept the teachings within the Bible. Maybe that is where our differences stand from, maybe you do not see same sex sexual relations a abomination just the same as sexual relationships between unmarried individuals.
If you can show me in Scripture where it teaches us that God listens to the prayers of sinners who rejects His truths, or those who are called to ministry as teachers teach that He listen to their prayers then I will apologize and change my thought process but only if you can back up your thinking process and this Bishop’s with what we Christians are suppose to accept as God infallible Words.
By the way, I would interpret it the same and feel the same way if this minister paraded as a teacher of God and lived with a woman that was not his wife and told the world and his followers that such behavior was accepted by God.
So again, if you can back up your thought process concerning what you have stated, then I will then change my thinking regarding this. Sincerely, and I am waiting your reply.