In recent years, the National Day of Prayer has become a White House event. President Bush hosted religious leaders in the East Room for a ceremony in honor of the annual event. But it remains to be seen how or if the new administration will acknowledge the day, which this year is May 7. Adelle Banks of Religion News Service reports that a task force organizing events on Capitol Hill is wondering too.
"We're not the coordinators of that event," said Brian Toon, vice chairman of the task force. "That's controlled completely by the White House. We have been honored to be guests at the event in the past, but we have not heard a peep from them."
In years past, Toon said, a White House liaison has contacted the ministry at least a month in advance to ask about their participation in the White House events that featured music, Scripture readings and remarks by the president and Shirley Dobson.
[UPDATE: The Interfaith Alliance and Jews on First have sent the President a letter (pdf) urging him to endorse an inclusive approach to the Day of Prayer on May 7, and invite clergy from many faiths "to participate equally and fully – especially in events held on government property." The letter argues that the National Day of Prayer Task Force allows only Christians to organize and conduct events and therefore should not be "issue(d) a separate proclamation".]
