Reports started going around this morning that President Obama had finally chosen a church:
Now, in an unexpected move, Obama has told White House aides that instead of joining a congregation in Washington, D.C., he will follow in George W. Bush’s footsteps and make his primary place of worship Evergreen Chapel, the nondenominational church at Camp David.
In a rush to break this news, Amy Sullivan at Time may have spoken to soon.
The Christian Science Monitor and several other sources say otherwise:
“The President and First Family continue to look for a church home. They have enjoyed worshipping at Camp David and several other congregations over the months, and will choose a church at the time that is best for their family,” Deputy White House Press Secretary Jennifer Psaki said in a statement.
There’s no rush on this, of course.
Obviously, I would love it if he just didn’t choose a church at all, choosing to worship in the privacy of his own bedroom. Is that not an option? Or are Christians so insecure that they have to see him sitting, bored out of his mind, in a public sanctuary?
The way the media would follow him wherever he goes, though, may be a practical reason not to choose one. He already has a religious advisory team. He says he is religious when he makes speeches. Going to church would just be for show, anyway. Despite being a politician, Obama doesn’t strike me as someone who would want to go to church just for the sake of appearances. He might have to eventually if his faith is in doubt by the voters, but I would assume we have more important things to think about.
Going to church isn’t a prerequisite to being a Christian, anyway.