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National Day of Prayer Task Force Criticized For Lack of Inclusiveness

By Howard Friedman

The National Day of Prayer Task Force is excluding Jews, Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, and even moderate evangelical Christians from taking lead roles in its events, according to a posting Thursday by Jews On First. In a message from Task Force Chair Shirley Dobson, those applying to become coordinators for this year's May 1 activities are asked to fill out an application "to determine your personal and spiritual qualifications for this service". The application itself says that the Task Force is organizing prayer events "conforming to a Judeo-Christian system of values." It then asks applicants to indicate they agree with a Statement of Belief that says that the Bible "is the inerrant Word of The Living God" and that the applicant believes "that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only One by which I can obtain salvation...." A Policy Statement from the task force says that "People with other theological and philosophical views are, of course, free to organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs."

The Task Force claims only that it is "a privately funded organization whose purpose it is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer." However its website highlights official Presidential and Gubernatorial Proclamations marking the National Day of Prayer, and points out that the day was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress. Last year the Task Force Chair played a leading role in the White House National Day of Prayer ceremony, but the White House added other participants to emphasize the inter-religious nature of the event.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 30, 2008 (boomark / email).