Why Did Obama Invite Al Sharpton to Easter Prayer Breakfast But Not Southern Baptist Leaders?
- Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:28am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
On Wednesday, we reported about President Barack Obama’s Easter prayer address during which he spoke about Christ’s “triumph” in his crucifixion and how the story serves as a personal inspiration. However, following the prayer breakfast there seems to be some confusion regarding who was invited and, more importantly, excluded from being offered an opportunity to attend.

While the Rev. Al Sharpton, known for his sometimes odd commentary and fiery rhetoric, was invited, some mainstream and well-known leaders were left off of the invitee list.
(Related: Obama During Easter Address: Jesus‘ ’Triumph’ In Crucifixion Helps Me During Troubled Times)
FOX News’ Todd Starnes reports that Christian leaders from across the nation were invited to attend the event in the White House’s East Room. But the Obama administration is getting some criticism for not inviting some of the most prominent names in the Christian sphere. According to the Southern Baptist Convention, top leaders, including SBC President Bryant Wright and SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page, weren’t extended an invitation.
Richard Land, too, who serves on the SBC’s Religious Liberty Commission, was also not invited. But Land, who is outspoken and never afraid to share his views, claims that his feelings “are not hurt.” As for the Sharpton invitation, he said, “As my east Texas grandmother once said, ‘Birds of a feather tend to flock together.’”

Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (AP)
The SBC is the nation’s most populous Protestant denomination. This fact alone, it would seem, would warrant an invitation for someone within the church. Of course, it is possible that this was merely an oversight. But the failure to send the invitation caused some, like Robert Jeffress, a pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, to harshly respond (you may recall Jeffrees coming under fire for controversial comments about Mormonism last year).
“It appears that the Obama administration is more interested in the views of race-baiting, black liberation theology spokesmen like Jeremiah Wright and Al Sharpton than those of mainstream, evangelical Christians,” Jeffress said in an interview with FOX News. “To not invite leaders of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination to the White House Easter Prayer Breakfast is more evidence of this administration’s tin ear toward evangelical Christians.”
Here‘s footage from Obama’s Easter prayer address:
Oddly, the White House has declined to provide a full list of the names of those individuals who were sent invitations. According to Starnes, the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Initiatives, too, did not return calls addressing the matter.
A White House aide claims that heads of major denominations and non-profit leaders were invited. Among them, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Church and Sharon Watkins, president of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.

Planet Washington reports on a wider array of purported guests:
According to the White House aide, among the invited guests were: Pastor Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, A Church Distributed; Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archdiocese of Washington DC; Archbishop Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Church; Pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Atlanta; Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals; Rev. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Rev. Julius Scruggs, President, National Baptist Convention; Noted Christian artist Sara Groves.
Again, it’s possible that leaving the SBC out was unintentional. But the inclusion of Sharpton is particularly interesting due to his position at MSNBC, a network that features individuals widely supportive of Obama. Furthermore, Sharpton has been more than vocal about the Trayvon Martin shooting — a controversial event that continues to divide individuals in the media and public alike.
One of the pastors at the event, it should be noted, was dressed, according to reports, in a hoodie – likely an effort to make a statement about the tragic shooting. The Washington Times has more:
A press pool of the event did not name the bishop, who was one of about 150 clergymen who attended the prayer event in the White House’s East Room. But multiple sources have since identified him as John R. Bryant, a bishop with the African Methodist Episcopal church in Chicago.
According to April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks, Mr. Bryanttold her that Mr. Obama didn’t comment on his attire even as he was shaking his hand.
Taking a divergent stand from Sharpton, Land has been vocal about his opposition to civil rights leaders’ handling of the case. On his radio show on Saturday, the SBC leader unleashed his opinions about the matter.

“Rather than holding rallies on these issues, the civil rights leadership focuses on racially polarizing cases to generate media attention and to mobilize black voter turnout,” he said. “This is being done to try to gin up the black vote for an African-American president who is in deep, deep, deep trouble for re-election and who knows that he cannot win re-election without getting the 95 percent of blacks who voted for him in 2008 to come back out and show they are going to vote for him again.”
Of course, the invitations were likely sent before these comments were made. But Land has been no stranger to criticizing the Obama administration. One can’t help but wonder if the president invited individuals more friendly to his agenda and administration, while excluding others who have been more critical. But the only way to confirm such a notion would be to secure a list of all attendees. So far, this hasn’t been made available.


















Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (164)
JGraham III
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:01pmWell did Isaiah prophesy of people like those currently in authority; This people draws near to Me with their mouths and honors Me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Jesus cited this passage, then went on to say “in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.” What is Obamacare but a big pile of man‘s commandments passed off as the ’will of the lord’?
Report Post »Never have I seen a president so full of pride that it almost seems as if he thinks Jesus should move over so someone“more competent” can take over.
If I were of the SBC, I would wear it as a badge of honor that I was excluded from the sham of a prayer breakfast. The effectual ferverent prayer of righteous men still avails much and attending such a political event as Obama’s “prayer” breakfast would only hinder those prayers.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:10pm.
Report Post »I don’t see any women on that list? Are we sure this is a Easter Party? Could be the Washington DC NAMBLA meeting……
freeus
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:30pm@SPANKDAMONKEY
Report Post »They invited Twana Brawley but she couldn’t make it.
NHwinter
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:42pmWhy didn’t he invite Southern Baptist? Because he didn’t want real Christians there.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:58pm“Why Did Obama Invite Al Sharpton to Easter Prayer Breakfast But Not Southern Baptist Leaders”
Because the Jacka$$ is the farthest thing from a “man of God.” The guys a bum who started out riding on God’s Word, Garbage like the rest of them.
Report Post »Paul
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:20pmP.s Frauds of a Feather…
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:27pmI sure hope Romney -if elected- will keep that ilk out of the White House.
Report Post »girlnurse
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:28pm@KICKINBACK…Romney is one of them
Report Post »Clive
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:02pm@KickinBack @girlnurse…
Report Post »Exactly. Besides, romney is going to get his a$$ handed to him. and the trolls will be here to gloat about it.
SEPARATENOW
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:40pmRomney may or may not have his a** handed to him in November. He certainly is not an Obama Neo-Comm. If you can’t see the difference between Obama and Romney, you need to visit the eye doctor or a psychiatrist.
The realists among us get it. Purity over all is your mantra, even if it ensures we all get flushed in the process. If you demand perfection of humans you will ALWAYS be disappointed. If you insist you’ll have to await the second-coming and nothing less.
Best of luck on that.
Report Post »Maji
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 6:21pmCause “Marxist” ain‘t going to invite anybody who ain’t like dim!!!
D’ay get “marx’s”off duh list!
Awh-ite!
But we wood be remissed not to axe!
(My best Sharpton)
Report Post »cuinsong
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 1:39amRev. Al? Really? In the first place he’s not even a real Rev.!
Report Post »It seems like more & more NObama is showing his hand.
I think he is sensing the reality of the fact that he is not going to be re-elected.
That is why he doesn’t care who is des-invited.
Nobody is buying his such & jive anymore.
The health care bill looks like it will get struck down.
Anyone one with 1/2 a brain knows he is lying about things like his birth cert. his Muslim beginnings, his refusal to allow oil drilling or the oil pipeline project that would create thousands of jobs, It just goes on & on his failure to lead and his hate for white America and our capitalist system just to point out a few!
We are about to experience the real NObama sooner rather then later I fear!
We will probably will need to remove him by force when he looses the election!
That brings me to his song called “The Devils Song”
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10789987
turkey13
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 5:36pmI hope Obama put in a stipulation that The Rev. al, had to pay the 1.2 million he owes the IRS before he can come!
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on April 7, 2012 at 11:36am.
Report Post »“Why Did Obama Invite Al Sharpton to Easter Prayer Breakfast But Not Southern Baptist Leaders?”
Simple.
Al Sharpton BELIEVES in the Easter Bunny, so does Obama.
IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:01pmThey have something in common “blame someone else”
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:27pmHe was only aloud to have 69 of his close friends
Report Post »iampraying4u
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:00pmhe only had room for 666 of his friends
Report Post »Reason365
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 3:18pmBarry Barry Barry
Report Post »Just a sportin that diversity card in your pocket aren’t you.
Your a card dude. Crackin me up, hangin with your sad criminal posse
HKS
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:00pmIf we had a media with any stones at all they would already have the connection between these two exposed and overshadowing the Zimmerman story. Sharpton is on the white house payroll and is one of Barry’s men on the street leading the racial disturbances and media smokescreens. It’s easy to see the connection and Marxist tend to be bold with what they do anyway, like hide in plane sight. Strange how that works, they tell you what their doing and it‘s like people don’t hear.
Report Post »Gryphon Moor
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:25pmWell said. I feel like I am living in a different reality than those people that make up Obama’s poll numbers casting their approval for his job performance. Do they really support him and consciously hope he destroys the country?
Report Post »iampraying4u
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:57pmwe should leave obamanation off the list this fall
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:28pmThe fact that Sharpton and the other MSLSD creep Tupre have not been fired is a smoking gun that the ‘get out the Black vote protests’ were pre-planned in conjunction with the White House just waiting for an event to trigger it. Unfortunately, the is turning out to be another Tawana Brawley case whose evidence will not stand up in the end but don’t wait for any apology.
Report Post »indy1
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:54amObama believes in “collective salvation” as preached by Reverend Jeremiah Wright. He is as “Christian” as my pet rock.
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:05pmYour pet rock has a better chance of getting into heaven than any of the race baiters out there.
The answer is simple, obahitlerstalinmao is a racist just like most of the libs and progressives out there, so he only cares about the opinions of the racists and race baiters.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:30pmSweet Old Barack needs Rev Al to stir up the ghetto rats. He needs the riots before the election so that he will have his excuse to declare Martial Law. He may not wait, when the SCOTUS shoots down his health care fiasco he may try to revolt then. Look at him challenging the court, he has dared them to defy him.
Remember watch the other hand. The court challenge could be smoke and mirrors for something much more serious.
OMG 2012
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:54amPlain and simple obama and sharpton are racist and the Southern Baptist Leaders are not and would not fit into their goals.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:27pmObama is clearly racist, although not even close to the DOJ, but Obama‘s interest in this story has more to do with maintaining presidential power than protecting black ’victims’
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:53amYes, of course he just wants the “Christians” who aren’t really Christians (like him) to come to those things. Here‘s a very enlightening article about Obama’s past in Chicago where he and his Communist friends like Jarrett, etc. re their attack on the Catholics (nothing new):
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/04/04/The-Vetting-Obamas-War-on-Catholic-Church-Began-at-First-Job
Report Post »BelieversAreDelusional
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 12:04amNo True Scotsman eh?
Report Post »sdeakins
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:52amPigs rooting in the same slop pan.
Report Post »drago
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:05pmBlacks of a feather…………
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:51amUnion Thug Richard Trumka
Racist Al Sharpton
Union Thug Andy Stern
The Muslim Brotherhood
We are known by the company we keep.
We are at the crossroads people. The line has been drawn.
ASK your Senators… which side of the line they are going to stand on?
ASK your Representatives …..which side of the line they are going to stand on?
ASK your Governors …. which side of the line they are going to stand on?
We will all have to decide.
Do we pick a goverment run society – no longer FOR THE PEOPLE – BY THE PEOPLE — or do we pick the SOCIALIST choice and let the government make all our decisions for us?
They did that once — in Germany — about 1939
Report Post »And how did that work out?
MDKing
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:39pmI’m very afraid we might find out.
Report Post »1NJslave
Posted on April 7, 2012 at 5:46amI will not waste my time asking anything from the senators from New Jersey. I know where they stand, and that’s not with me. Lousenberg and Menendip care only for their own hides. They cowtoe to Bloomberg and Shumer. Power is all they are interested in. Too many politicians in America have become this way. Time to clean house before we no longer have a home.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:51am.
The Question: “Why Did Obama Invite Al Sharpton to Easter Prayer Breakfast But Not Southern Baptist Leaders?”……..
The Answer: “Southern Baptist Leaders won’t kneel down on those little rugs!!!!!”………..
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:36pmFunny
Report Post »BumperMorgan
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:43pmExcellent and absolutely correct.
Report Post »J_Ruben_Kincaid
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:05pmAl will do it only if a donation is involved. You have to have some standards after all.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:48amRadicals attracting radicals; what more needs to be said about Kaiser Obama?
Report Post »littlefish
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:47amDey speek da same langig . . .
Report Post »bankerpapaw
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:47amWhy? Because Obama and Sharpton doesn’t want any real pastors there who preach love and
Report Post »forgiveness. Their message is hate and revenge.
perry1980
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:46amThis is a Rhetorical Question right?
Report Post »Quiata
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:46amTo the author/reporter, Billy: PROOFREAD YOUR HEADLINES!
“Why did Obama invites [sic] Al Sharpton…”
It’s THE focal point of your story…make it work.
Report Post »TexBork
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:46amI believe Obama does it for racial reasons.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:53amI believe he did it for political ones. Bryant Wright and Richard Lane have been outspoken critics of Obamacare. He likely didn’t want them there for that reason.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:57amMore than that. The SBC President has rightly preached from the pulpit that homosexuality is a sin and against abortion. Those are two of the pillars of the Democrat party.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:06pmLocked, I‘m a member in Bryant Wright’s JFBC church and I have never heard or read anything he’s said about Obamacare. He’s very politicaly nuetral in the pulpit. Did I miss something he’s said?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:24pm@Gonzo
He’s come out firmly against the contraceptive mandate:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/why-baptists-stand-wtih-catholics-on-birth-control-mandate/2012/02/22/gIQA1RpATR_blog.html
“The federal government’s decision is a flagrant violation of the First Amendment’s free exercise clause protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
This mandate by the executive branch is less about birth control, abortion or the Catholic Church than it is about the government attempting to compel people to subsidize and pay for that which they find unconscionable.”
Article written by both Wright and Lane.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:50pmThanks Locked. That’s excellent news to me.
Report Post »poster
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:44am“Why Did Obama Invites Al Sharpton to Easter Prayer Breakfast But Not Southern Baptist Leaders?”
Gee — wow — that’s a tough one. Ummmm — Hmm. wow. Tough one.
I guess you could say that Al isn’t REALLY a reverend, right? So, he really hasn’t invited anyone with religious connections. So, hey, it’s cool, right?
Report Post »SEC777
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:49amSara Groves is Southern Baptist, as is Louie Giglio. Two of the names presented are Baptists, and there were undoubtedly more. So, what’s the problem?
Report Post »SEC777
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:51amAnd I have no idea why the Blaze, with Glenn’s Mormonism so well known, would use Robert Jeffress to make any kind of point, considering the hurtful and hateful things he said about Mitt Romney and Mormonism in general.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:48pm@SEC777
Report Post »Will you guys get over the martyr syndrome? It is not breaking news the veiws of evangelicals as concerning mormons, jehovah’s witnesses, 7th day adventist. They have been the same since when Joseph Smith was alive. If he recognized mormonism as a christian faith, he would be calling his own doctrine a lie. Mormons believe we are wrong in our doctrine. Tolerance means we can live peaceably with other faiths, not embrace them. That said, I have no problem voting for Romney because he’s a mormon. In fact, he was more convicted toward the conservative stance of LDS, I would feel even better voting for him. The bottom line is the LDS does not believe Jesus is equal to God the Father and to us, that is blasphemy. We also believe that the Book of Revelations is the last time God inspired man to write cannonized scripture and all else is not from God. Now, either we believe that or we don’t. But, we don’t believe in infringing on your rights to believe what you will. So, let’s stop with the martyrdom stuff please. We fundamental baptists (formerly known as anna baptists) were persecuted and killed HERE by PROTESTANTS in the 1600‘s and we don’t whine about it. Jesus told us to expect persecution and be glad when it happens because is glorifies HIM!
SEC777
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:28pmOh, I’m not Mormon. I’m actually a Southern Baptist minister. I was just wondering what the Blaze would quote a person whose views on Mormonism are openly antithetical to Mr. Beck’s, since he is a Mormon.
By the way, Revelation was surely not the last book of the NT written. Revelation was written most likely during Nero’s persecution, which would date it far beyond a number of NT books. The NT isn’t written chronologically, of course. It is agreed among evangelical scholars that all of John’s other books (The Gospel of John, I John, II John, and III John) were all written AFTER the book of Revelation. Just thought you might want to look it up, especially if you are speaking to Mormon’s about the completion of the New Testament canon.
And, by the way, I am part of the Anabaptist tradition, which explains my thoughts on war, which lines up much more closely with Rep. Paul.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:43amThe obama bumper stickers should actually read
Report Post »“OBAMA BIDEN SHARPTON 2012”
“RACE-BAITING AND CHANGE”
Just so we don’t forget what we are really getting with obama.
HKS
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:43amEasy answer, racist flock together.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:40am.
Report Post »I bet they think the Easter Bunny is Black…….
BumperMorgan
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:46pmNow that’s funny. To them if “you ain‘t black you ain’t nothing”.
Report Post »AquaBuddha
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:39amUm to plan their next race baiting promotion?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:35amBecause he doesn’t want real Christians there.
OMG 2012!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:47amOooo, burn! So this list…
“Pastor Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, A Church Distributed; Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archdiocese of Washington DC; Archbishop Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Church; Pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Atlanta; Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals; Rev. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Rev. Julius Scruggs, President, National Baptist Convention; Noted Christian artist Sara Groves.”
… which includes Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Baptists, and Evangelicals, are not real Christians?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:14pmLOL . well he doesn’t like (white) southerners I guess. … as for the prayer breakfast .. Obama cancelled at least ONE when he WASN’T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:32pm@LOCKED
The whole list is full of members of liberal denominational groups. All that proves is that heretics don’t prefer one denomination over another.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:52pm@Squid
Far be in from me to judge other denominations; I think you’ll find a fair amount of people upset at you doing so though.
But your point has validity; and is also the reason why I laugh when Beck says something like “We’re all Catholic.” You’re completely right: the reason there are separate Christian faiths is because we are not all “X” denomination. Why would you be a Southern Baptist if you thought Catholics were “right”? Someone from a fundamentalist group (like SBC) would indeed consider all of these other “Christians” heretical.
But I’m not a fundamentalist Christian myself; I’m not going to paintbrush the groups who attend a prayer breakfast because their faiths represent the majority of Christianity. Calling them all liberal or heretics would be (in my opinion) morally wrong and factually inaccurate.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:35amSBC President Bryant Wright is going to be in his church Sunday morning… not being used for a photo op. by the POTUS.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:34amObama is still anti-white and still has the beliefs that were instilled in him by the racist, Rev. Wright. Liberation theology is not really Christian and that suits obama since he is a closet Muslim; Obama is a radical black and is probably closer in his beliefs to Farakhan than to any Christian. Sharpton is too. Obama is a radiacl muslim, marxist and has found a fellow traveler or sorts in Sharpton. They both hate white people.
Report Post »Jorge
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:34amBarak Obama feels his reelection and power grab will be served by promoting division among Americans. He divides the classes of Americans and the races. It is disgusting we have seemingly intelligent people that follow this man.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:33amIs this a Serious Question?
We’re talking about the Racist In Chief; – and a DESPERATE one at that!
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:43amYour right . Like we really need a story questioning why ? We all know why.
Report Post »