Opening Prayer Met with Booing at DNC

Last week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland featured some controversial prayers given by pastors at that convention’s opening night. On Monday, Democrats gathered for their national convention in Philadelphia reciprocated, with an opening prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale that was met with competing cheers and jeers from assembled delegates:

“We have an opportunity, O God, to give undeniable evidence of our commitment to justice and equality by nominating Hillary Rodham Clinton as our candidate – hallelujah – for the highest office in the land. God, you have given us wisdom. Now give us courage for the facing of this hour. Unite us, O God, in one party. It is in your mighty name that we pray. Amen.”

Hale pastors Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. Active in Democratic politics, Hale also featured prominently at the first official event of the DNC Black Caucus on Sunday, July 24, a community worship gathering held at Philadelphia’s Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church titled “DNC Black Caucus: Our Values, Our Voices”.

According to coverage of the event provided by the Philadelphia Sun, Hale made it very clear that there is a war on Black people and her support for expected Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton:

“I feel like there is a war on Black people. Not just police, but by civilians. 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act we are still fighting racism,” said Hale citing notable cases in recent years of police murders of Black men and woman and the murder of teenager Jordan Davis by a White armed civilian.

The worship service packed in nearly 1,000 persons.

Religion News Service’s David Gibson provided a transcript of the night’s closing benediction by Rabbi Julie Schoenfeld, a leader in the Conservative Jewish movement, which neither mentioned the presidential candidates nor garnered the jeers of Hale’s opening prayer:

“In a season so filled with chatter of ‘Who is Great’ and ‘What is Great’ and ‘What Shall Be Great,’
Let us remember Scripture’s clear, simple explanation of greatness:
God is the great, the mighty and the awesome,
For God defends the cause of the widow and the orphan,
And loves the stranger residing among you.
This is God’s greatness and this is the greatness the American people must strive to imitate.”