Prayer Breakfast : Deukmejian Tells of His Faith in God

Gov. George Deukmejian took a break from California politics and government here Thursday to deliver an uncharacteristically personal statement on his religious faith to a National Prayer Breakfast audience of more than 4,000.

“Today, those of us who are in positions of responsibility have gathered to reaffirm this sacred American compact with God,” the governor said. “To give our thanks. To ask for His blessings. To seek His strength. And to do His will. . . .

“We ask only that God grant us those gifts that are so important to leadership--the courage to make difficult decisions, the conviction to do what we believe is right, the confidence that we can create a better future for every single one of God’s unique children.”

The bipartisan breakfast, a tradition that dates to 1953, during the Administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, drew President Reagan and Vice President George Bush, as well as Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, congressional leaders, national religious figures and rank-and-file church members from around the country.

Invited by Sponsors

Deukmejian, an Episcopalian, was invited to deliver the principal address by the sponsoring House and Senate prayer breakfast groups and made a 24-hour round trip to Washington to do it.

Lightheartedly, he reminded Reagan of the California tradition of a governor’s prayer breakfast.

“I’m sure, Mr. President, that you remember those very well,” he said. “It’s the third of three noteworthy events that take place at the start of each new year.

“First, the Legislature returns to Sacramento. Then, the governor submits his new budget. And, after that, everyone starts praying for him!”

The usually reserved and intensely private Deukmejian, who rarely talks of his religion, told his audience: “Every person has value. Every individual is unique. Every child has dreams. God recognizes that. America was founded on that belief.”

He also said that although “some public officials speak of the sacrifices and the burdens of leadership,” nothing can compare to the sacrifices of people like his Armenian parents, who fled Turkish persecution to come to the United States.

“God filled them with faith, virtue, integrity, perseverance, patience and godliness,” he said. “And here they discovered a simple truth. . . . If you have faith in God and the freedom that is America, there’s just no limit to what you can accomplish for your family and your fellow man.”

The breakfast opened with a prayer by Secretary of State George P. Shultz and closed with a prayer by Gen. John A. Wickham Jr., Army chief of staff.

Bush and U.S. Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor read excerpts from the Old and New Testaments, and Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode delivered a “prayer for national leaders.”

Deukmejian had been scheduled to hold a press conference with Washington-based California reporters, but he canceled it because, aides said, he did not want to detract from the solemnity of the prayer breakfast.