Religion

Obama's 10 Most Important Faith Leaders

The Rev. Sharon Watkins
General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(Office of the General Minister and President)

She may not cut a national profile, but the Rev. Sharon Watkins has made plenty of history. She's the first woman to lead a mainline Protestant denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, which has 700,000 members. And President Obama selected Watkins as the first woman ever to give the sermon at the National Prayer Service, held the day after the presidential inauguration. "There are crises banging on the door right now, pawing at us, trying to draw us off our ethical center," Watkins said at the service, held at the Washington National Cathedral. "We need you, Mr. President, to hold your ground." Obama, who first met Watkins on the campaign trail last year, has since invited her to join his Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

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