By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer
(November 22, 2008) -- The Obamas have chosen an ethnically-diverse and expensive private co-ed school for the education of their two daughters but they have yet to select the church where they intend to worship.
Like many Washington, D.C. powerbrokers, the Obamas settled on Sidwell Friends, an institution that has two branches: one for students in pre-K-4th grade at a location in Bethesda, Md., in the Washington suburbs, and the other for students in grades 5-12 located in Northwest Washington.
Michelle Obama, who made the primary decision, is said to have considered at least two others schools -- Georgetown Day School and Maret, also located in Northwest Washington.
Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Michelle Obama's spokeswoman, said all of the schools were considered fairly. “A number of great schools were considered," Lelyveld said in a statement released on Nov. 21. "In the end, the Obamas selected the school that was the best fit for what their daughters need right now."
Michelle Obama talked to District officials about the public school system, but in the end opted to continue to educate her daughters in a private institution. The daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, currently attend the University of Chicago Laboratory School.
The last presidential child to attend D.C. public schools was Amy Carter, daughter of President and Rosalynn Carter. She attended Stevens Elementary School and Hardy Middle School.
By choosing Sidwell Friends, the Obama children will follow a tradition of first daughters.
President and Hillary Clinton opted to send their daughter, Chelsea, to Sidwell because it was a private school where there were no issues regarding safety. President Nixon’s daughter, Tricia, is also an alumna of the school.
Other notable alumni include Albert Gore III, ABC News anchor Charles Gibson, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and Olympic Silver Medalist and entrepreneur Jair Lynch.
Julia Nixon Eisenhower (sister of Tricia Nixon), former first lady Nancy Reagan, writer Gore Vidal and San Antonio Spurs guard Roger Mason attended the school but received their high school diplomas elsewhere.
A Quaker school, Sidwell Friends is 38 percent ethnic minority and is almost even in terms of boys to girls. The yearly cost for the lower school, which Sasha will attend is $28,442 and Malia's will come to $29,442.
As far as is known, the Obamas have not decided where they will go to church in the District, if at all. The major denominations -- Methodist, Baptist, A.M.E. and their own United Church of Christ -- have been courting them.
The Washington Post reported Nov. 21 that the Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, through its pastor sent a letter to the Obama campaign several months ago asking for the Obamas to become parishioners.
"We thought we'd better get something out there," the Rev. Rich Smith, senior minister of Westmoreland, told the Post. "It would seem worth a shot anyway."
The Obamas have not selected a church since they left Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ during the primary season following the controversial sermons of the former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
In the District, they can choose from churches near the White House such as the First Baptist Church of the City or St. John's Church, Lafayette Square.
Or they can follow their denomination, as was the case with the Clintons. Hillary Clinton is a certified lay speaker with the United Methodist Church and was a member of Foundry United Methodist Church in the District. President Clinton joined Foundry after he decided to break with his Southern Baptist roots because of the church's stands on political issues.
Asbury United Methodist Church, located on 11th and K streets, N.W. has a standing invitation for any president to join or attend its services. Asbury is one of the oldest Black Methodist churches in the country.
"When a new president comes to town, we send them a letter of congratulations and ask them to come to our services," Lonise Robinson, the church's archivist, said. "We have not got any takers yet but we hope to get Barack Obama and Michelle to come see us."
Another possible option for the Obamas is Metropolitan A.M.E. Church located three blocks north of the White House. While the future first family is not affiliated with the denomination, church leaders have made it clear that the Obamas are welcome at the historic place of worship.
"We have extended an invitation to the Obamas," Tony Hawkins, Metropolitan's church administrator, said. "Through the Council of Bishops, we have written a letter to the Obama family encouraging them to join Metropolitan."
Metropolitan, which is co-pastored by the Revs. Ronald and Marie Braxton, hosted an early morning prayer service on the day of President Clinton's 1996 inauguration. The historic church also hosted Rosa Parks' D.C. commemoration service and it counted Frederick Douglass among its parishioners.
Still another possible worship venue is the Washington National Cathedral, also located in the city. Since its founding in 1907, every president from Theodore Roosevelt has either worshipped, preached or delivered a eulogy at the Cathedral. While no first family has joined the Cathedral as members, the Web site indicates that they are welcome to do so.
The biggest non-spiritual advantage to the Cathedral is its isolated location, thereby lessening security concerns.
Any church that would have the Obamas would be a boon but it will come with a price. There would have to be security sweeps, and church members would have to be subject to metal detectors and frisking by the U.S. Secret Service.
The Obamas are not expected to make a decision until they get to Washington in January.