Calling Democrats "people of faith," the Democratic National Committee today announced a huge interfaith gathering to kick off the convention in Denver on August 24.
Its the first time the Democrats have brought together so many people of different faiths at one of their national conventions — and heralded musicians will share in the gala, officials said.
The gathering will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 24, at the Wells Fargo Theater, inside the Colorado Convention Center.
Sharing the dais will be an evangelical bishop; a leader of an Islamic society, a Catholic nun and a Jewish rabbi.
Rabbi Tsvi Weinreb, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, will keynote the event.
Also speaking will be Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding prelate of the Church of God in Christ; Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America; and social activist Sister Helen Prejean, who was featured in the award-winning movie Dead Man Walking.
Music will be by Grammy-award-winning gospel artist Richard Smallwood & Vision and the Spiritual Project of Denver.
"Democrats have been, are and will continue to be people of faith — and this interfaith gathering is proof of that," said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee.
"As Convention CEO and a pastor myself, I am incredibly proud that these esteemed leaders from the faith community will be with us to celebrate this historic occasion and honor the diverse faith traditions inside the Democratic Party."
Local clergy will include Imam Abdur-Rahim Ali of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center; Rabbi Steven Foster from Congregation Emmanuel; human rights leader Reverend Lucia Guzman ; and Buddhist participant Kathryn Ida.
In the press release announcing the event, the Democrats made it clear that while they're ecstatic about the diversity of religions participating in the gathering, they are not endorsing any one particular religious group.