A few years back, when Michelle Bachmann was representing me in the Minnesota Senate district 52, she invited me to open the legislative day with prayer. This is a common practice in Minnesota for representatives and senators to invite a member of the clergy in his or her district to do this.
Around here you can't throw a rock without hitting a Lutheran church. I don't know why she invited me. I'm not even the same flavor of Lutheran as she is (she is Wisconsin Synod, I am ELCA).
I accepted this privilege knowing that I was not there to proselytize or divide but to give thanks and ask for God's blessing upon the work of the assembly.
Yesterday, another member of the "clergy" accepted a similar invite. Sadly, he used the occasion to be a world class jerk.
Here's link to a report of what happened when Bradlee Dean led the opening prayer. Yikes
You know this is bad when even the Republicans were pissed off.
He did not go into an anti gay rant. Rather he implied very blatantly that President Obama is not a Christian. What a jerk.
I have to hand it to the Republicans here. They denounced Dean, and did a redo of the opening.
I buy their story that they did not know he was going to do this. After all, then Sen. Bachmann did not pre-approve my prayer. She had no idea I was not a political supporter. This was not about politics.
When I did the prayer it was a very wonderful experience. I'm just a small town parish pastor whose only political experience is going to caucuses and voting and doing some phone banking and donating. I did not even put a lawn sign up because I lived on church property and did not want to alienate Republican members of the congregation.
So I accepted Senator Bachmann's invitation. I put on my best suit and drove down to St. Paul. The senator greeted me and showed me the fancy back room that is through the door just to the right of the president's podium. It is a high ceilinged, dark panelled, gaudily carpeted and chandeliered club house. I met all the senator's friends (all Republicans) and was offered coffee and snacks.
When my turn came I stepped to the podium, and said my prayer. I gave thanks for God's provision of clean water, clean air, safe neighborhoods, good schools, healthcare and employment. And then I asked God to guide the assembly to work for those who do not have those things. Then I ended.
I did not even use the J word.
I'll tell you, the difference after that prayer was like night and day. The Republicans got very cold and the Democrats got very chummy. Becky Lourey (DFL Kerrick) came up to me and said when I started out she thought I was pie in the sky. But when I spoke for those who lack she said she almost shouted "Amen." Other DFLers approached me and thanked me for the prayer. The Republicans did not even say good bye.
I have not been invited back.