The Brody File has some more information on exactly who will be on this new President's Faith Council. You can see that below. Also, The White House released a statement on what the priorities of this council will be. Get my take after the names.
Judith N. Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America
Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi David N. Saperstein, Director & Counsel, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and noted church/state expert
Washington, DC
Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus, Southern Baptist Convention
Taylors, SC
Father Larry J. Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA
Alexandria, VA
Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Cleveland, OH
Eboo S. Patel, Founder & Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Corps
Chicago, IL
Fred Davie, President, Public / Private Ventures, a secular non-profit intermediary
New York, NY
Dr. William J. Shaw, President, National Baptist Convention, USA
Philadelphia, PA
Melissa Rogers, Director, Wake Forest School of Divinity Center for Religion and Public Affairs and expert on church/state issues
Winston-Salem, NC
Pastor Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, a Church Distributed
Lakeland, FL
Dr. Arturo Chavez, Ph.D., President & CEO, Mexican American Cultural Center
San Antonio, TX
Rev. Jim Wallis, President & Executive Director, Sojourners
Washington, DC
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Knoxville, TN
Diane Baillargeon, President & CEO, Seedco, a secular national operating intermediary
New York, NY
Richard Stearns, President, World Vision
Bellevue, WA
You can criticize President Obama as much as you want but let's face it. The fact that a President of the United States is putting emphasis on issues like reducing abortion and responsible fatherhood is a good thing. It should be commended. The key for Obama on all of these "priorities" will be to make sure that they don't turn into a liberal political agenda. Think about it. If the recommendations turn into more big government spending proposals or contraception for all on the abortion issue then it becomes political. These council members have an important and difficult task. They need to figure out a way to come up with ways forward on these issues without getting sucked into the same old "us vs them" mentality. Look, there will be diverse opinions on these issues. There will be disagreements. That's to be expected. What is also expected out of this council is sound, reasonable, thoughtful, non-political recommendations on issues important to many Americans.