Lest anyone question their devotion to God and country, the Democrats had a message to deliver on Sunday.
"With all due respect to the commentators, we don't need to bring faith to the party. Faith is what we live," pronounced the Rev. Leah Daughtry.
"Democrats are, have been, and will continue to be people of faith. And people of faith are, have been, and will continue to be Democrats."
Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee, served as emcee of an interfaith service - Faith in Action - that attracted about 3,000 people of various ages, races and religions to the Colorado Convention Center.
Among those in attendance were Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Gov. Bill Ritter, who welcomed the congregation to the first official event of the DNC.
"There is a tremendous intersection of faith and politics," Ritter said. "Politics at its deepest root is moral."
At times, the two-hour service resembled a traditional Baptist revival, with Grammy-winning gospel singer Richard Smallwood providing uplifting musical breaks.
The service also carried a somber tone, particularly when Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, talked about the need to abolish the death penalty.
Prejean and Smallwood were part of an eclectic group that came together for a common cause: to promote the message that Democrats are united across religious lines.
"It sets the tone for a lot of what we have in front of us," said Ella Gilbert, a Washington, D.C., resident and member of the National Federation of Democratic Women. "To start it off with the unity concept was wonderful."
Not everyone was united. Three times, dissenters were removed by security officers.
As people filed into the 5,000-seat Wells Fargo Theater, a man shouted out that presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama is a "baby-killer."
The congregation responded with an emphatic chant of "O-Ba-Ma."
Two other men were escorted from the theater over the next hour, but the service otherwise had no disruption or protest.
Though religion is one of the most polarizing topics in politics, it was hard to criticize an event that could bring together leaders from such differing faiths.
Speakers included Rabbi Steven Foster, of Congregation Emmanuel in Denver; Bishop Charles Blake, of the Church of God in Christ; and Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America.
Blake provided some of the most stirring comments when he talked openly of his anti-abortion stance that conflicts with the overall policy of the Democratic Party.
The bishop called on Obama to pursue alternative options to abortion and chided Democrats for not taking responsibility for unborn children.
His harshest words, though, were reserved for Republicans, whom he said "refuse to recognize their responsibility to those who have been born."
He received one of several standing ovations.
Another was reserved for Mattson, who said she tells Islamic leaders abroad that Muslims in the United States still face discrimination constantly.
Despite the difficulties, Mattson said she remains convinced that the United States "is still the best place in the world to practice our faith."
lopezaa@RockyMountainNews.com. Staff writers Paul Anthony and Ryan Sabalow contributed to this report.