A week after Pastor Mark Burns raised eyebrows at the RNC with his opening prayer, last night the DNC was led in prayer by the Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church. In a prayer during which she described human error leading to division among the United States, she also invoked the greatness of America and the high expectations of God for the nation and for the Democratic party to promote justice, equality, and inclusivity. However, when she invoked the name of the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, the previously prayerful room erupted into competing cheers and jeers, and chants of “Bernie” followed the rest of the prayer through its final “Amen.”
“Unite us, O God, in one party,” Hale concluded. Watch her prayer here.