Obama presidency begins with prayer service

In her sermon at the first prayer service attended by US President Barack Obama after his inauguration, Rev Dr Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), called on the leader who, she said, would "set the tone" for the nation, to chose compassion, faithfulness and love over vengefulness, anger and fear.

Preaching at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC on 21 January, Watkins, a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, said: "Even in these hard times, rich or poor, we can reach out to our neighbour, including our global neighbour, in generous hospitality, building together communities of possibility and of hope."

In a 20 January letter to President Obama, representatives of WCC member churches in the United States, declared that they wanted to "roll up [their] sleeves and partner with [Obama] to help bring about the changes that are so desperately needed for the United States and the world to more closely reflect God's vision for humankind and all of creation."

WCC general secretary Rev.Dr Samuel Kobia assured Watkins of the Council's joy and pride over her role as preacher in the inaugural service. Watkins is the first woman to fulfil this responsibility in US history. With regard to domestic and international challenges that will have to be addressed by the new administration, he wrote in a 19 January letter: "Your prayers will be much needed."

Watkins' sermon took on a recent suggestion by Muslim scholars worldwide for love of God and love of neighbour as "common basis for building a world at peace", explaining that the best way to express love of God "is by facing hard times with a generous spirit: by reaching out toward each other rather than turning our backs on each other."

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya.