Young evangelical backs out of convention prayer
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It was a coup for Democrats: An emerging young evangelical voice, a registered Republican no less, accepted their invitation to deliver a prayer at next week’s Democratic National Convention. But Cameron Strang, the 32-year-old editor of edgy and hip Relevant Magazine, had second thoughts and pulled out of delivering the benediction on the convention’s first night, Monday. –
AP reports Citing fears that his bridge-building gesture would be wrongly construed as an endorsement, Strang said he instead hopes to take a lower-profile role, participating in a convention caucus meeting on religion later in the week.
The Washington Times reports that Barack Obama’s team will continue its aggressive outreach to evangelical voters at the Democratic National Convention next week. Making a prime-time appearance Thursday night will be Joel C. Hunter,
a Florida megachurch pastor, who will deliver the convention’s closing
prayer after Obama’s speech accepting the party’s presidential
nomination.
The Trail reports Hunter is a registered Republican, opposes abortion and, at one point, had been chosen
to lead the Christian Coalition. He has not endorsed Obama and says he
agreed to give the benediction because has was asked to do so. For
years he has agitated for evangelicals to refuse to align themselves
with any one political party and has been a part of the so-called new
evangelical movement interested in getting away from traditional
culture war flashpoints.