Saying a little national prayer

Tony Dodero

Three local leaders told a multi-denominational crowd gathered for

the National Day of Prayer Thursday morning that faith plays a big

part in shaping how they make their public decisions.

Newport Beach City Councilman Steve Bromberg, Costa Mesa City

Councilwoman Libby Cowan and retired Irvine School District trustee

Margie Wakeham were asked to give a talk on “Reconciling political

life with personal religious belief.”

The breakfast at the Presbyterian Church of Covenant in Costa Mesa

was sponsored by the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council and

emceed by the Rev. Dennis Short of Harbor Christian Church in Newport

Beach.

The 140 or so attendees heard from a number of speakers who

offered prayers from various faiths and were entertained by local

pianist Jim Roberts, who played renditions of “God Bless America,”

“America the Beautiful” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

Bromberg, who is of the Jewish faith, spoke about how he recently

learned that there was a group called the Republican Jewish Coalition

in Orange County.

“Orange County is one of the most progressive leaders in religious

issues and tolerance,” he said. “But it wasn’t always that way.”

He noted how not that many years ago, a Jewish group would have

had a difficult time forming in Orange County, but that there has

been a growing acceptance of other denominations through the years.

As for performing his duties as a councilman, he credits faith for

helping him steer through the contentious issues he faces on the

dais.

“When dealing with religion and politics, what other issues can be

more contentious than that?” he asked. “Faith is more important than

the particular religion itself.”

Councilwoman Cowan explained how her upbringing by her devout

Presbyterian parents helped form who she is today.

“My political life is based and founded on my own values and

religious faith,” she said. She said her biggest challenge is to see

the good in those who don’t share her particular values and faith.

Next up was former school board member Wakeham, who said her

calling to run for political office was based on her religious

upbringing and background.

Even still, she said, her struggle as a public leader has been to

remain humble.

“You are seduced to thinking you are special,” she said. “The

power of the elected official is enormous.”

She recounted a story where she was chosen to give an invocation

at a public meeting. She said she was just thinking to herself how

special she had become when she had a startling revelation.

“I looked down and saw I was wearing two different shoes,” she

said. That, she said, was God’s message to her to be more humble.

The National Day of Prayer was officially proclaimed to be the

first Thursday in May by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. This was

the seventh year a breakfast has been sponsored by the

Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council, a coalition of diverse

religious organizations that promotes unity and open discussion

between the different faiths.