Convention invocation will focus on justice, peace
By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 18, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
From a Christian point of view, South Korean-born Youngsook Kang, a leader in The United Methodist Church, sees the nomination of Democratic front-runner Barack Obama as a "moment of sacred change."
The 55-year-old Arvada woman and her 58-year-old husband, Jin Ho, a Methodist pastor , are among the spiritual leaders invited to lead prayers during the Democratic National Convention next week.
It's part of Obama's and the Democratic Party's efforts to make sure the world knows they, too, have religion.
"My husband and I - we are honored," said Kang, reached in San Francisco where she is visiting their son. "We hope to convey to the Democratic convention a message of hope - building a bridge of hope among all God's people."
Kang, district superintendent of the Metropolitan District of The United Methodist Church's Rocky Mountain Conference, and Jin Ho, pastor of the Christ Central Korean United Methodist Church in Aurora, will focus on justice and peace during their benediction Aug. 26.
"I hope that my husband and I bring a message of creating a community that demands justice for workers in the market and that seeks peace - and deploring violence and war," she said.
Donald Messer, president emeritus of the Iliff School of Theology, where Kang earned her master of divinity degree, and executive director of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, wrote a letter in May supporting Kang as a bishop in the church. She didn't end up getting elected.
Messer described Kang as an "ideal choice" for the DNC because of her ability to "overcome obstacles and to radiate hope and affirm the future."
Former state Senator Polly Baca, a Catholic from Greeley and president and CEO of the Latin American Research and Service Agency, is also on the DNC agenda to give an invocation on the opening day of the event.
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August 18, 2008
5:40 a.m.
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Mike846 writes:
Just curious here...uh, why isn't the ACLU filing a suit to stop this mix of religion and government? I mean, if they can sue to remove religious speech at high school commencements and the like, why not here? Could it be because they are part of the sham to give people the impression that the secular progressive Democrat Party actually is led by religious people? Gimme a break. Bet this story drops off the radar quick. Mike
August 18, 2008
8:37 a.m.
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Mayor_Quimby writes:
That only matters when its a republican issue. Duh!
August 18, 2008
12:07 p.m.
dilligaf writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
August 18, 2008
12:16 p.m.
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Cowboy63 writes:
Mike846 writes: "Just curious here...uh, why isn't the ACLU filing a suit to stop this mix of religion and government?"
Answer: because the democrats and their minions are spineless cowards who rail against religion but don't have the courage to remove it completely from their agenda.
August 18, 2008
1:10 p.m.
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HopiMedicineMan writes:
Justice and peace are the converse of one another.
Justice, if it exists comes at great expense and violence. There's peace among the Indian nations, but there's no justice. Peace will continue as long as alcohol is available. No repeating rifle has decimated the Indian people as alcohol. If you Democrats want justice for Indians, ban alcohol and distribute guns.
Justice is revenge and never anything of higher mind. Lawyers in this country have turned it into something even less noble than revenge.
Democrats pray for that, somehow fitting from dilligaf's comments.
August 18, 2008
1:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
Keith43 writes:
"It's part of Obama's and the Democratic Party's efforts to make sure the world knows they, too, have religion"?
Of course the cattle (excuse me, people) will believe this carp because they've either never have had enough sense or were too lazy to look beyond their TV screen to really know who the real Obama is. When the Dems choose this guy, they'll have dug themselves another basement below the one they dug for Clinton.
America is fast asleep and that's exactly what the polititians and the news media want.
Bye Bye America!
August 18, 2008
1:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
DenverDan writes:
It is funny how all the people on the right know who the "Real Obama" is. When they voted for Bush "Twice". Sometimes the best person for the job is not a Republican, get over it. (AKA Bush).
Can't have change with the same people doing the same things.
Rebpublicans can fool some people some of the time. Can't fool all the people all the time.
Obama 08
August 18, 2008
2:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Keith43 writes:
DenverDan,
You're partially right, I did vote for Bush "once", and after being a republician my entire life, I switched to the American Constitution Party. Bush has all but destroyed our economy, our constitution, and our "fairly good" reputation around the world. History may record him as our worst.
But seriously, I've done a lot of reading and research on Obama and I've listened to a lot of what he's been saying. All the evidence points to the fact that he's all show and really hasn't come up with anything concrete for "change". When he's not in front of a teleprompter, the answers to questions posed to him, reveal his inexperience and down right stupidity and usually stumbles through his answers in near total incoherance. And because the media has chosen him as "their man", they won't ask the hard questions. Lastly, to avoid the heat, when anyone on the right asks him a tough question or rebuts his statements, he throws up the race card and everyone backs down.
By the way, his wife has publically expressed her hate for America, and he won't salute the american flag; nor wear the flag on his lapel. And finally, he had the american flag removed from the tail of his campaign aircraft. The flag issue may be trivial to you; but again, it may be the tip of the proverbial iceberg. What does this knowledge suggest to you? Because of what Bush has done, does this mean we take whatever comes along? We may be jumping form the pan into the fire.
DenverDan, I've read a number of your posts on various articles. You're pretty much up on things. I'd seriously like to know what it is about Obama that has drawn you to him. Thanks!
August 18, 2008
6:41 p.m.
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jjez writes:
Keith43--did you actually research that bit about him removing the flag? According to snopes, it was the logo of the company he rents the plane from. McCain doesn't have a flag on the tail of his plane. They both have small flags elsewhere on the fusilage. I don't like either candidate, but I'm really getting tired of the boloney that's being circulated by bashers on both sides. I also don't think that Obama's followers are doing much in the way of verifying for themselves what he's all about. Just sheeple following a charismatic leader who seems to think like they do. Of course, the same could probably be said of McCain by those who hold Obama in high esteem. Though I don't think anyone could really accuse McCain of being charismatic. Obama scares me, because he talks big about change but is never specific. I think he's giving people what they want to hear but will be just like all the rest of them if he gets into office. I will be really, really glad when all of this is over, and we can start complaining about something else.
August 18, 2008
9:42 p.m.
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jresquibel writes:
Jin Ho Kang is a terrific fellow and a dedicated Christian. The choice is perfect. Congratulations Jin Ho!