Rick Warren

Rick Warren is founder and evangelical pastor of the Saddleback Church. He is also author of the best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life. Warren delivered the invocation at the ceremony to inaugurate President-Elect Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.The New York Times: Aretha Franklin to Participate in Inaugural Ceremony (December 17, 2008)

Warren is launching his own magazine in February 2009, which will be titled Purpose Driven Connection. The quarterly magazine will be published by the Reader's Digest Association and will include access to a Christian social networking site and DVDs for group prayer sessions.Blogging Stocks: Rick Warren launches his own magazine (January 27, 2009)

During the inaugural prayer, Warren called for "civility when differing." He said Americans are "so grateful to live in this land." He mentioned Martin Luther King Jr. by saying, "We know that Dr. King and a great crowd of witnesses are shouting in heaven." He went on to say, "We are united not by race or religion or blood, but our commitment to freedom and justice to all."Midwest Voices: Rick Warren's Prayer Hits the Mark (January 20, 2009)

Obama's choice of Pastor Warren angered many in the gay community. Warren supported Prop 8, the bill that outlawed gay marriage in California.Wag the Blog (WashingtonPost): The Rick Warren Kerfuffle (December 18, 2008) At a press conference on December 18, 2008, Obama said, "I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something that I have been consistent on, and I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency. What I've also said is that it is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues"Political Punch (ABC): Obama Defends Rick Warren Pick (December 18, 2008)

In December 2008, atheist Michael Newdow filed a lawsuit seeing to stop all religious prayers in inaugural ceremonies for Barack Obama. Rick Warren was named as a defendant in the lawsuit.Earned Media: PJI Defends Pastor Rick Warren in Inauguration Prayer Lawsuit (January 15, 2009) FOX News: Atheists Opposing Inaugural Prayers... (January 13, 2009)

Dr. Rick Warren believes in attacking what he considers the five Global Goliaths. They are spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease and illiteracy. Warren implements reformation by trying to restore responsibility in people and creating credibility in the church.Official Site: Rick Warren

Saddleback Church is an evangelical congregation that has a 120-acre campus. The church averages 22,000 attendees weekly and has more than 300 ministries. The ministries offer help to various groups such as prisoners, drug addicts and those with AIDS.Official Site: Rick Warren

On August 16, 2008, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain appeared at the Saddleback Church. For Warren, the idea of having both candidates appear at the church was to encourage "Christian conservatives to turn their focus to social injustice" and create an image of the church that is "not identified with any political party."CBS News: The Importance of Rick Warren's Event (August 15, 2008)