Episcopal Gay-Affirming Pastor Chosen to Replace Louie Giglio for Obama Benediction

An Episcopal pastor from a church not far from the White House has been chosen to replace evangelical Christian pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church to perform the official benediction at President Barack Obama's public inauguration on Jan. 21.

The Rev. Dr. Luis León has led Saint John's Church in Washington, D.C. since 1995, and was invited last week to deliver the benediction, CNN reported. He also delivered the invocation at George W. Bush's second inauguration in 2005.

"You don't get used to this. I'm just as nervous now as I was the first time," León said about being chosen. "From the moment someone asks you to do that, your wheels are spinning with what to say. So my wheels were spinning now."

"I think when we're asking a blessing for this country," the Episcopal pastor added. "I think we're asking God to lift us up, to lift up what's good in us. To remind us of what's good in us and remind us to do what's proper, what's the good, the right thing for the country." Read more