Prayers at United States presidential inaugurations
Since 1937, the United States presidential inauguration has included one or more prayers given by members of the clergy.[1][2] Since 1933 an associated prayer service either public or private attended by the president-elect has often taken place on the morning of the day.[3] At times a major public or broadcast prayer service takes place after the main ceremony most recently on the next day.[4]
Rev. Donn Moomaw gives the invocation at the 1981 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. Also pictured are House Speaker Tip O'Neill, Vice President George H. W. Bush, President Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Nancy Reagan.
Reverend Luis Leon delivering the benediction at the 2013 presidential inauguration
Invocation by Myrlie Evers-Williams, the first woman and non-clergy to deliver an inaugural prayer.
Benediction by Rev. Dr. Luis León, fourteenth rector of St. John's Church. Pastor Louie Giglio had originally been tapped by the inaugural committee but withdrew amid controversy regarding a sermon perceived by some as anti-gay [1] he had delivered in the 1990s.[11]
Invocation by Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., former president of Georgetown University[13]
Benediction by Rev. Silvester S. Beaman, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilmington, Delaware[14]
Associated morning prayer service
Presidents since 1933 have often worshipped privately before the actual ceremony.
1933 – Franklin Roosevelt attend a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Saturday) before being sworn in.
1937 – Franklin Roosevelt attended a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Wednesday) before being sworn in.
1941 – Franklin Roosevelt attended a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Wednesday) before being sworn in.
1945 – Franklin Roosevelt had a private service in the White House.
1949 – Harry Truman attended a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Thursday) before being sworn in.
1953 – Dwight Eisenhower attended a service at National Presbyterian Church in the morning (Tuesday) before being sworn in.
1957 – Dwight Eisenhower attended a service at National Presbyterian Church (Sunday) before being sworn in privately. He was publicly sworn in the next day.
1961 – John F. Kennedy attended the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Holy Trinity Church.
1965 – Lyndon Johnson attended a private service at National City Christian Church in the morning (Wednesday) before being sworn in. Billy Graham gave a sermon.
1969 – Richard Nixon had a prayer breakfast in the State Department
1973 – Richard Nixon had no prayer service. He did attend church the next day, a Sunday. There was also a White House Prayer Service with Billy Graham (sermon), Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, and Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin as speakers.[15]
1977 – Jimmy Carter attended a private service at First Baptist Church[16]
1981 – Ronald Reagan attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church. Speakers included Billy Graham.
1985 – Ronald Reagan attended a private service a morning prayer service at Washington National Cathedral before taking the presidential oath at the White House on Sunday, January 20. Speakers included Billy Graham.[17] He attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church before his public swearing in at the Capitol on Monday, January 21.[18]
1989 - George H. W. Bush attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church.
1997 - Bill Clinton attended a private service at Metropolitan AME Church
2001 – George W. Bush attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20
2009 – Barack Obama attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church
2013 – Barack Obama attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church on the morning of Monday, January 21, immediately before his public inaugural ceremony. (He had privately been sworn in the previous day.)
2017 – Donald Trump attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church
[4]In 1789 George Washington along with Congress attended a service at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City after his swearing in. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Samuel Provoost. No similar service is known until 1933.
Thursday, January 20, 1977 James Carter had a half-hour interfaith prayer service at the Lincoln Memorial in the morning (8am) before the main ceremony; he did not attend.[16][20][21] Speakers included
1981 Ronald Reagan had a service at National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle, Washington, D.C., but he did not attend.
Sunday, January 20, 1985 Ronald Reagan had a public service at the Washington National Cathedral. Speakers included
Billy Graham gave a sermon
Sunday, January 22, 1989 George H. W. Bush attended a Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after his swearing in.[22]
Beulah “Bubba” Dailey of Austin Street Center in Dallas, read Proverbs 3:1–8
Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America led the people responsively in the Twenty-Third Psalm. He also gave one of the prayers.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013 – An interfaith National Prayer Service at 10:30 am in the National Cathedral was attended by President Obama, Vice President Biden and their spouses.
Abdullah M. Khouj, president and imam of the Islamic Center of Washington, gave a traditional Islamic call to prayer.
Sapreet Kaur, national executive director of the Sikh Coalition, Rev. Charles Jenkins II, senior pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, and Dr. Stephen F. Schneck, of the Catholic University of America led the prayer for those who serve.
Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition led the third reading.
Allison Mondel, cantor of Washington National Cathedral, gave an invitation to prayer.
Saturday, January 21, 2017 – An interfaith National Prayer Service in Washington National Cathedral was attended by President Trump, Vice President Pence and their spouses.[26]
Carlyle Begay of the Navajo offered the invocation.
Rabbi Fred Raskind of Temple Bet Yam, St. Augustine, Florida, read the first reading.
Evangelist Alveda King, Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn, Priests for Life; Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr., Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Maryland; and Narayanachar Digalakote, Senior Priest, Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, Lanham, Maryland, led prayers for those who govern.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, led a prayer for civil leaders.
Imam Mohamed Magid, Executive Imam, ADAMS Center, Sterling, Virginia, gave the Muslim call to prayer.
Sajid Tarar, Advisor, Medina Masjid, Baltimore, Maryland, read the second reading.
Pastor Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside & Irvine, California, and Dr. Jack Graham, Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas, led prayers for those who serve.
Archbishop Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America led a prayer for service to others.
Canon Rosemarie Logan Duncan of the Washington National Cathedral gave the Christian call to prayer.
Dr. David Jeremiah, Senior Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, California read the third reading.
Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd, Senior Pastor, Cross Church, Arkansas, read Psalm 23.
Dr. David D. Swanson, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida, read the fourth reading.
Jesse Singh, chairman, Sikhs of America; Minister Ian McIlraith, Director of Youth Programs, Soka Gakkai International-USA, Santa Monica, California; and Anthony Vance, Director of Public Affairs, United States Baha’i Community, led prayers for the people.
Cissie Graham Lynch, Samaritan's Purse, lead a prayer for peace.
Pastor Ramiro Peña, Senior Pastor, Christ the King Baptist Church, Waco, Texas, led the Lord's Prayer.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, Roman Catholic Church, led a prayer for our country.
Bishop Magness offered the closing prayer.
Bishop Budde gave the blessing.
Rev. Darrell Scott, Senior Pastor, New Spirit Revival Center, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, gave the dismissal.
Thursday, January 21, 2021 – Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service hosted by Washington National Cathedral at 10 a.m.[27]
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II co-chair, Poor People's Campaign, preached. Other participants included:
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Diocesan Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean, Washington National Cathedral
Sr. Norma Pimentel, executive director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Jen Hatmaker, NYT Bestselling Author, Podcast Host, and Speaker
References
^"Presidential Inaugurations Past and Present: A Look at the History Behind the Pomp and Circumstance".
^ a bNewdow. "Appendix D: Inaugural Clergy" (PDF).
^"Morning Worship Service".
^ a b"Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services". Washington National Cathedral. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^Anonymous. "An Inventory of the John A. Ryan Papers". The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^Anonymous. "The Bishops of Columbus". The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^Waldman, Steven (January 17, 2009). "The Power of Prayer". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
^Anonymous. "History of United Hebrew Congregation". United Hebrew Congregation. Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^Order of Events. (1949, January 20). The Washington Post (1923–1954),p. C1. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877–1994). (Document ID: 234212532).
^Anonymous. "Reverend Preacher Dr. E.V.Hill Died Late Monday Night in L.A." Cephas Library. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^Suggs, Ernie; Daniel Malloy (January 10, 2013). "Atlanta's Rev. Giglio withdraws from Obama inauguration amid controversy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
^Peter, Baker; Peter Shear (January 20, 2017). "Donald Trump Sworn in as President, Caping his Swift Assent". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
^Christopher, White (2021-01-06). "Jesuit Fr. Leo O'Donovan to deliver invocation at Biden inauguration". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
^Jenkins, Jack (2021-01-14). "Biden taps Delaware AME pastor to offer benediction at inauguration". Religion News Service. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
^"Presidential Inaugural Prayers and Sermons of Billy and Franklin Graham". Archived from the original on 2009-01-26. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
^ a bBriggs, Kenneth A. (January 21, 1977). "Plea by Dr. King's Father Adds Touch of Revivalism to the DAy". New York Times. p. 30.
^Clines, Francis X.; Times, Special To the New York (1985-01-21). "Reagan Sworn for 2d Term; Inaugural Parade Dropped as Bitter Cold Hits Capital". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
^Grimmett, Richard F. (2009). St. John's Church Lafayette Square: The History and Heritage of the Church of the Presidents, Washington, DC. Minneapolis, MN: Mill City Press. p. 227.
^"Read the homily Joe Biden heard Inauguration Day morning". Religion News Service. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
^Weinraub, Bernard (January 16, 1977). "Five-Day 'People's' Inauguration Begins in Capital Tuesday". The New York Times. p. 24.
^Briggs, Kenneth A. (January 19, 1977). "Prayer Gatherings Greet Inauguration". The New York Times. p. 33.
^"Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services (1989)". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^"Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services (2001)". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^"Bush Attends National Prayer Service". CNN.com. January 21, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
^"Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services (2005)". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
^"The National Prayer Service for The Fifty-Eighth Presidential Inaugural" (PDF). cathedral.org. Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Washington National Cathedral. January 21, 2017. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
^"Presidential Inaugural Committee and Washington National Cathedral Announce Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service". bideninaugural.org. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.