Taylors Pastor Calls His Appointment to Obama Advisory Council "Surreal"

A pipeline to the president.

Dr. Frank Page believes he's gained that by agreeing to serve on a presidential advisory council.

Dr. Page spoke about the appointment during an interview with News Channel 7's Tom Crabtree.

Page is pastor of First Baptist Church of Taylors, and he recently completed a two-year term as president of the 16-million member Southern Baptist Convention.

He calls being on the president panel "surreal. I feel a little bit out of place. Certainly I'm still shocked that I would be asked to be part of something like that."

Dr. Page has accepted a one-year appointment to the advisory council for the President's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

"I certainly respect (President Obama) and pray for him every day as the scripture commands. But he and I are on greatly differing sides in regards to most every moral and social issue."

The economy is taking most of President Obama's time, and Dr. Page says the top charge of the advisory panel is making sure basic human needs are being met in the ailing economy. "So (the President) has asked that this council kind of be his ears, his eyes out in the community to make sure those who need help... the hurting, the homeless, the hungry... that they are really getting the help they need."

The council's 25-member roster of people from the faith community and secular groups is still being filled out. Page says he is the only Southern Baptist member so far and one of the few conservatives.

He says at the panel's first meeting, something he considers very important was missing, and he hopes that will change. "Thus far, there has been no prayer. That would be a fascinating thing, if I am asked to pray, I will pray. Everybody that knows me knows I will pray in the name I love so much, and that's the name of Jesus."

Dr. Page says there are four main issues the President wants the advisory panel to address. They include helping the homeless and hungry in this ailing economy; developing policies that will reduce abortions; addressing the crisis of fatherhood; and increasing interfaith dialogue.

Page says finding common ground on abortion may be one the council's toughest tasks. "I hope and pray we can. There will probably be a presentation of a majority report and a minority report. I expect to be on the minority side."

Dr. Page says if he ever feels like a token conservative, he'll resign from the panel.

But so far, he feels good about taking the job.