There’s a lot to admire and respect about Rick Warren, who’s going to to offer a prayer at Barack Obama’s inauguration.  He’s led his church to establish ministries that work to stop AIDS and care for AIDS patients.  He’s helped thousands of people to know God.  He’s been willing to admit his failings, that he spent many years forgetting that Christians should be taking care of the poor and marginalized, and he’s turned his focus more toward poverty, AIDS and taking care of the environment.

But should he be part of this historic inauguration?  Many people say no, although I don’t see the decision changing at this point.

Obama says that we can “disagree without being disagreeable”, and apparently thinks this choice shows that he can work with people even if he disagrees with them on some issues.

I’m okay with people having different beliefs.  If Rick Warren believes gay marriage is wrong, fine!  Rick, feel free to not marry a man.  Feel free to not conduct weddings for same sex couples.  But why do you have to impose that belief on the entire state of California?  Because that’s what Proposition 8 did.  Legalizing same-sex marriage in California did not require anyone to participate in same-sex marriage if they didn’t want to.  But Proposition 8 outlaws it for everyone anyway.  That’s one of the biggest reasons why it is totally and completely wrong.

So that is why I disagree with the decision to have him offer the invocation at the inauguration.  Not because his beliefs are different from mine, but because he insists on imposing those beliefs on others.

What should be done about this?  Although I wish Obama had chosen someone else in the first place, I don’t think Warren should be removed from the agenda or pressured to step down.  I don’t see that as a loving response, and it would likely cause even more polarization and hurt feelings.

I do think it’s good for us to continue this discussion.  I do appreciate that Obama restated his commitment to equality for gay and lesbian people.  Obama did state before that he was against Proposition 8 (although in a lukewarm fashion); I’d like him to specifically recognize that he and Warren differed on that issue.  I’d like to hear Barack Obama really recognize the frustrations of people who oppose Rick Warren’s selection, rather than just defend his choice.

Disagree without being disagreeable?  Yes!  But don’t forget the disagree part — it’s still important.

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