Rick Warren To Give Inauguration Invocation

Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor and author of "The Purpose Driven Life," was handpicked by Barack Obama to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. It's a role that positions Mr. Warren to succeed Billy Graham as the nation's pre-eminent minister and reflects the generational changes in the evangelical Christian movement.

Mr. Obama's inauguration program, for Jan. 20, was announced Wednesday by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Celebrations.

Inauguration programs follow a traditional outline but also allow a president-elect to put his stamp on the proceedings and set the tone for his administration.

The choice of Mr. Warren, pastor of a megachurch in Orange County, Calif., is an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage. In fact, his selection set off a round of criticism by gay rights groups angered by his support for California’s ban on same-sex marriages. But Mr. Warren has also been one of the most prominent evangelical leaders calling for Christians to expand their agenda and confront global problems like poverty, AIDS, climate change and genocide in Darfur.