'Faith in Action' at the Democratic National Convention

By Alan Campbell

The 'Faith in Action' celebration was the official opening ceremony of the Democratic National Convention on Sunday, August 24, 2008 in the Wells Fargo Theater at the Colorado Convention Center. The event was inspirational and hummed with diverse languages, beautifully clothed people and dynamic speakers. Although the theater seats were more comfortable than your typical church pews, the music and spiritual environment put me in mind of church on Sunday.

The ceremony opened with music by the Spirituals Project Choir, which rang throughout while the diverse crowd of participants filled the theater. There were a few protesters who seemed to be planted in the audience. On of the three protestors stood up after each song and began talking about abortion or other issues. These protesters were met with "boos" from the crowd and were quickly escorted out of the theater by police.

After the Spiritual Project, the Denver Indian Singers led in program spiritual leaders and speakers for the opening ceremony. Reverend Leah D. Daughtry, a minister in Washington, D.C. and the Chief Executive Officer of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, gave opening remarks, setting the stage for the diverse religious speakers who would follow. "Today is a celebration of our faith and values," said Rev. Daughtry. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter welcomed the DNC to Colorado.

Various readings were provided from a variety of religions texts, including the Torah, Holy Qur'an and the Holy Bible, to name a few. Spiritual leaders spoke and provided inspirational perspectives about the Democratic Party's sacred responsibility to their children, neighbor, nation and world. Many speakers drove the audience to there feet several times during the ceremony with the points they made. Keynote speakers included: Bishop Charles E. Blake, Presiding Bishop of The Church of God in Christ; Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Director of MacDonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut; Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, and Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregation of America. The celebration concluded with harmonious recessional music by Trinity United Methodist Church Choir, Denver, Colorado.

The "Faith in Action" ceremony brought forth the diverse religions in the Democratic party, which seemed to show a common theme of hope and respect for all.