Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders scheduled to speak at Democratic convention

A diverse group of faith leaders is scheduled to speak at the Democratic presidential nominating convention.

Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington D.C. will deliver the benediction on Aug. 18, the second night of the convention, according to a list shared with The Associated Press on Aug. 16 before its public release.

The convention will be almost entirely virtual, with online video addresses. Former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to accept the nomination on Thursday.

Interfaith service planned

Other faith leaders scheduled to speak include the Rev. Gabriel Salguero, the Florida-based pastor who founded the National Latino Evangelical Coalition; Jerry Young of the Mississippi-based New Hope Baptist Church; Archbishop Elpidophoros, leader of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and Rabbi Lauren Berkun, vice president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.

Berkun is one of four faith leaders from three religious traditions who are scheduled to speak on Thursday, the convention’s final day. The party also planned an interfaith service on Sunday.

Also set to speak on Thursday are Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the advocacy group NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and a longtime Biden ally dating to the push to pass President Barack Obama’s health care plan; the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at large of the Jesuit magazine America; and Imam Al-Hajj Talib ’Abdur-Rashid, a Muslim social justice activist who leads the New York-based Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood.