Buckhead Pastor No Longer on Obama Inauguration Program
Rev. Louie Giglio removed himself from the inauguration program following an outcry from LGBT advocates who say Giglio expresses homophobic views.
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl first reported on Twitter that Rev. Louie Giglio of Buckhead's Passion City Church has chosen to remove himself from President Barack Obama's inauguration program. Giglio had been selected to deliver the benediction at the event on Jan. 21.
(Buckhead Patch has reached out to Giglio and will update this report when he responds.)
According to tweets from Karl, who was told by an inaugural source, Giglio "pulled himself out when he realized this was going to be a distraction."
President Barack Obama has come under fire for selecting Giglio, who advocated "ex-gay" therapy and fighting the LGBT movement's "aggressive agenda," according to Think Progress. Members and supporters of the LGBT community do not want Giglio to deliver the benediction and started a White House petition to have him removed.
Giglio issued the following statement Thursday about his decision to withdraw from the inaugural program:
January 10, 2014
I am honored to be invited by the President to give the benediction at the upcoming inaugural on January 21. Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms.
Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.
Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing, thus I respectfully withdraw my acceptance of the President's invitation. I will continue to pray regularly for the President, and urge the nation to do so. I will most certainly pray for him on Inauguration Day.
Our nation is deeply divided and hurting, and more than ever need God's grace and mercy in our time of need.
Presidential Inaugural Committee Spokeswoman Addie Whisenant said the committee chose Giglio for his commitment to ending human trafficking, but were unaware of his past comments when they invited him to deliver the benediction on Jan. 21.
In her statement, Whisenant said: "We were not aware of Pastor Giglio's past comments at the time of his selection and they don't reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration's vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans."
Obama was criticized for similar reasons for his selection of megachurch pastor Rick Warren, author of the bestseller "Purpose Driven Life," to deliver the invocation at his first inauguration.
Buckhead Patch will continue to update this story as details are made available.
See also:
Buckhead Church Pastor to Deliver Benediction at Obama Inauguration
Chris Guthmann
1:31 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
The scriptures are clear about this matter. It is man that is changing "Gods" words to fit their desires. Marriage is between a man and a woman. It say so in the bible. It is there for a reason. Man can not change it without God saying so. I feel sorry for the people that feel they are better than Gods word on the day of reckoning.
Kay Clark
4:38 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Your use of "Gods" is clearly a statement of your pantheist beliefs. I congratulate you on your bravery to make such a declaration in such day and age of monotheist hegemony!
jMichael
1:51 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Scripture is about as clear as the reading of entrails. And clear or otherwise, why should anyone take seriously the self-serving ravings of ancient tribes?
jMichael
3:32 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I should add... to shun bigots is not an "agenda"; it is to witness the Message of Christ.
Amy Leigh
3:32 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
"...My aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ." not being smart-alec but what does that mean exactly??? why cant we just teach the Bible flat out and say "we are here to call people to repentance through the grace of the Lord Jesus. we desire to see people saved and lives changed!" dont be afraid to be bold. i dont like this watered-down version of Christianity in our world today. I'm just afraid there are many in churches who are learning to become good "Christians" but without every truly becoming Christians in the firstplace.
Cornus
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thankfully, common sense has prevailed. Anti-gay bigotry has no place at the Inauguration.
jimmie
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I beleive any association with the great Satan Obama could only hurt the reverend. I am extremely proud he did not renounce the preaching of truth that he does. Don't know how the unsaved can sleep at night knowing whats lurking for them.
Tony
12:04 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
I see you had the editor close comments on our thread, Jimmie. Did you cry to the powers that be the smart guy was being mean to you? HAHAHAHAHAHA
jimmie
1:22 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Didn't know he did dude...what reality are in? Cannibis 1 or Gay 2?
Samuel Marcus Brown
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thank You President Obama for Exemplifying Real Christian Values... http://sonofabishop.blogspot.com
Samuel Marcus Brown
Decatur, GA
KellieK
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
But not everyone is your religion so stop trying to force is on us. Thomas Jefferson was an athiest as James Madison....this govt was NOT based on the dang Christian Bible. Go be hateful in your own home and leave the rest of us out of it.
bobby roper
12:04 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
The biggest problem with being an atheist is they wil not get to spend eterinty in heaven but in hell
David D
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I hope God forgives your blasphemy.
jMichael
9:56 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Who is the blasphemer, David... The one who challenges the scribblings of desert tribes, or the one who brashly purports to speak in the name of God?
ruskin randy
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
tis a shame, now the folks that watch the inauguration get to listen to some liberal individual with a watered down message who will only be giving lip service to appease the gays and liberals themselves.
Wendy Martin
9:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
WOW!! He can't even get his dates straight!
Kiri Walton
9:44 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
That was most likely a typo in the email sent from his publicist.
jimmie
6:23 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
obama and the gays are in for a rude awakening!
jMichael
9:56 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Ah yes. The Great Satan and the sodomites.
What a team.
Amen.
"E Pluribus Unum"
9:56 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Having the pastor step away was the right thing to do.
Barbara
9:56 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Though I have no quarrel with anyone's sexual orientation, it's time for gays to show tolerance of those who prefer to observe the tenets of their religion. Tolerance needs to go both ways.
"E Pluribus Unum"
12:04 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Barbara LeBey...the concern I believe is his "ex-gay" therapy and opposion to LGBT rights. The issue is HIS intolerance clothed in hateful Christian ideology.
jMichael
1:47 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Well-said,E Pluribus Unum. ...and precisely on target.
"E Pluribus Unum"
12:04 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Barbara LeBey...I believe the concern and intolerance stems from the pastor's previous "ex-gay" therapy and opposition to LGBT rights. It's about intolerance clothed in misguided Christian ideology. BTW, I tried posting this comment earlier. If this becomes a duplicate response, I apologize.
Kiri Walton
12:05 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Hey everyone, the comments are not closed on this post. They just require editor approval.
"E Pluribus Unum"
12:40 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Kiri, thank you for the clarification.
jimmie
1:22 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
You get one shot Michael...don't waste it on toilet paper degrees!
Barbara
1:22 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
I believe people need to realize that all three major religions are antithetical to homosexuality with Islam the most vengeful. Hey, they are not only antigay but virulent in their subjugation of women. Pointing the finger at Christianity is myopic. If there's a quarrel with religious intolerance, direct the battle to all of them.
jimmie
1:22 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
I'm so happy about this I'm going to chickfila for lunch to support those who stand in the face of the evildors and intolerant tolerance demanders...
jimmie
2:24 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Rock on Barbara...using intelligence for good..great stuff!
jMichael
4:38 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
Welcome to America, jimmie. Here, it is the ChristoExtremists who hiss and slither their venomous hate on the gay community. They, therefore, earn the opprobrium.
See how easy it is?
All you have to do is learn how to think clearly.
Try it. You may find it enlightening
Sincerely,
Your friend, JamesMichael
jimmie
6:21 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Use your garbage speech to god fella. Pack a lot of ice ....
jimmie
6:21 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
The truly enlightened are not fooled by the perverse Michael. So sad your god given intellect has been seized by lucifer
"E Pluribus Unum"
11:14 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013
I wonder why the pastor was so gracious and quick to walk back his invitation? Pure speculation on my part, but I bet he wanted any controversy about his homophobic past to quietly fade away because many in his congregation, especially the younger members, didn't know about this before now. Maybe he didn't want to lose members.