Barack Obama was elected on November 4th, 2008 as the first African-American person to be elected to the office. This monumental moment was even acknowledge by his opponent, Republican Senator John McCain. President Obama took the ship of state at a moment of upheaval during the ‘08 Financial Crisis. As a leader in foreign policy, he successfully led a campaign to eliminate 9/11 orchestrator Osama Bin Laden. He also led the country through the Arab Spring and Russian incursions in Eastern Europe.

President Barack Obama’s faith was a subject of controversy during the presidential campaign of 2008 and his subsequent two-terms in office. While living in Chicago, President Obama attended Trinity United Church of Christ, which was pastored at the time by the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Dr. Wright’s controversial sermons and outspokenness on various issues from racial tensions to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Dr. Wright doubled down on his views causing then-candidate Obama to disavow his pastor and resign his membership from Trinity United Church of Christ. During his administration he would often attend St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square or the Washington National Cathedral.

In June of 2015, President Obama gave the eulogy for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney after the Pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church was gunned down with other bible study goers in a horrific hate-crime. President Obama concluded his remarks that day by signing Amazing Grace, which showed his deep well of faith and conviction in the use of theological moorings in the public square.