Partners in faith: President Obama's former faith outreach director, Joshua DuBois, talks to theGrio
theGRIO Q&A - TheGrio's Joy-Ann Reid caught up with Dubois during the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference, and talked about his new venture, and his thoughts about the role faith has played in President Obama's political life...
There’s a new pope leading the Catholic Church who is really getting a lot of attention because he’s really focusing the church back on issues of poverty. As a pastor and as somebody who has worked on public policy, what do you think that the American Protestant Church should be focused on?
I would say this is an exciting time for the American Protestant Church. Obviously there are a lot of significant and somewhat divisive debates now over abortion, over LGBT issues. But it’s also a time when the church is opening up to new issues of concern that were never on the radar before. For example, Evangelical Christians are engaging on immigration reform. There are massive interdenominational efforts on combating human trafficking. And so I think it’s a time for the church to begin being defined less by what they’re against and more by what they’re for. And if that continues to happen I think we could see [that] this a really a flourishing moment for American Protestants.
On that note, can you comment on the recent vote in the House to cut food stamps? Are we at a point where Christianity where unlike what’s happening in Catholicism, a certain segment of Christians are almost turning against the poor? A lot of these guys say they’re committed Christians, and yet there was this vote.
Well I am appalled by the vote in the House on SNAP — on food stamps. And fortunately millions of American Christians including some conservative Christians are disgusted along with me. People like Reverend David Beckman from Bread for the World, an Evangelical [anti]-hunger organization and others. And as you know this is just all based in complete fallacy. The vast majority of people on food stamps are either hard working individuals themselves, people who have recently lost a job and want to find employment, or senior citizens or children. And to look those folks in the eye and say that they’re not worthy of the most basic assistance we can provide. and that’s food, is I think a moral tragedy. And I think it’s hard for members of Congress to maintain that they are leading with their values if they can vote for more hungry people in this country.
And lastly, tell us what you’re doing now.
So now I’m excited to have a number of fun projects in the works. On October 22nd my book will launch; it’s called; The President’s Devotional. It’s based on the devotionals I send to President Obama every morning, so it’s 365 of those devotionals that have been meaningful to the President. And also to begin each month, there’s a longer essay with stories of faith in the White House; how my faith was strengthened, how the President’s faith was both tried and strengthened, and how the White House was a place of real vibrancy on issues of faith and values.
I also started a new firm called Values Partnerships where we help national nonprofits and foundations and private companies partner with the faith community to solve big challenges in the world — everything from climate change to fatherhood and a number of other areas as well. And working with Safiya Simmons and Michael Wear and others on that work. And then I’m doing some writing and commenting on issues that I care about and other things as well.
All right well I can’t resist, so I have to throw one more thing in as well. What’s the most memorable thing to happen in the White House, or your fondest memory in the White House?
There are so many! One was sitting down with the President and Billy Graham at Billy Graham’s home and just having that just tremendous experience being there while Billy Graham prayed for the president. And then as a surprise to all of us, the President started praying for Billy Graham, which was just something that I will never forget. Spending time with civil rights leaders and the president; folks like Rev. Joseph Lowery and C.T. Vivian and Dorothy Height, the quiet private moments that I was able to see them spend with President Obama. Particularly those like Dr. Height, who recently passed on, as you know, I’ll cherish for a lifetime. So there are lots of them.  And then there were the moments of real tragedy, but things that I’ll never forget, like being with the president after the Sandy Hook Massacre, and seeing that moment of real brokenness in him and pain, but also seeing the president seek to comfort those families that had been through something that is just unimaginable. And so there were lots of poignant moments over the years and it’s an experience that I’m really grateful to have had.
Follow Joy Reid on Twitter at @thereidreport.
