Rev. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, is a somewhat moderate Evangelical Christian who is trying to get Evangelicals and Progressives talking about various Christian issues such as global poverty, AIDS, human rights, and global warming ("stewardship" of the environment). He is anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage, but willing to talk to Barack Obama about these issues. Obama says that he opposes abortion and also opposes making it illegal; we must find ways to reduce unwanted pregnancy and thus the demand for abortion). Obama also says that he opposes gay marriage, but supports all other LBGT civil rights, such as ending "Don't Ask, don't tell" in the military.

Rev. Warren is scheduled to deliver the Invocation at the beginning of the Obama Inauguration. This has brought loud criticism from both the right and the left, forcing public discussion of these issues. One of the loudest Progressive critics in the media is Rachel Maddow, who has recently started her own show on MSNBC, following Keith Olbermann. Maddow is openly Lesbian. Although there is outrage against Warren from a segment of the Christian Right for accepting the invitation, most Evangelical leaders are cautiously optimistic or reserving judgment. Of course, there are some on both sides who praise Obama's decision to include Warren, but they don't make the headlines.

Commentary

Gay leaders furious with Obama
Obama Defends Rick Warren's Inauguration Invitation
Obama Tells Gay Community to Respect Choice of Warren at Inauguration
Inaugural Pastor Rick Warren Slammed Left and RightWarren peace offering The selection of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration is a welcome sign of nonpartisanship
Inaugural Pastor Rick Warren Slammed Left and Right but also supported. "Evangelical and conservative leaders across a broad spectrum who spoke with Newsmax came to Warren’s defense Thursday."
Suit filed to prevent invocation altogether.