Robinson had previously called Warren's selection a "slap in the face," adding that "the God that he’s praying to is not the God that I know." However, he told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Wednesday, "So many of us in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community were just stunned, really, by this choice, but I must say that in the intervening days, it appears that Barack Obama is being the person he told us he was ... by including all voices."

"Being a supporter of Barack Obama doesn't meant that we don't critique certain decisions that he might make," Robinson explained. He later noted, "I do feel very confident that this president-elect understands us and stands with us in the issues that are important to us. Of course, we're going to hold his feet to the fire. ... I long for a government that respects the dignity of every human being."

Even Rich Warren has now endorsed Obama's invitation to Robinson, saying "I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen." However, the differences between Robinson and Warren run deep, and the pre-inaugural spirit of goodwill is not likely to last.

Bishop Robinson's ordination in 2003 led to a bitter rift in the Episcopal Church, which climaxed when a number of conservative congregations in the United States seceded and attached themselves to the Nigerian archdiocese of the rabidly homophobic Rev. Peter Akinola, who has attempted to criminalize even discussion of gay rights in his own nation.

Rick Warren praised Akinola in 2006, writing that he "has the strength of a lion, useful in confronting Third World fundamentalism and First World relativism. ... I believe he, like Mandela, is a man of peace and his leadership is a model for Christians around the world."

Robinson, in contrast, told Maddow that "the thing that drew me to [Obama] was his talk of a vision of governing that was not about polarization but about bringing us all together. ... It's certainly a message that religious people should support."

Robinson's relationship with Obama began during the campaign, when Obama sought him out three times to discuss what it feels like to be "first" and then also drew on his advice in other areas.

"I worked behind the scenes with the campaign," Robinson explained to Maddow, "particularly advising Senator Obama around gay and lesbian issues. ... I think it is really based upon the brief but important relationship that he and I have been able to establish."

"When you were invited to give the invocation at this first inaugural event on Sunday, how

did they approach you?" Maddow asked.

"They approached me by telephone," Robinson replied jokingly. "It's a wonderful and long-standing custom. And we even have telephones in New Hampshire -- it's quite amazing."

He added more seriously that as well as delivering Sunday's prayer, he and his partner have also been invited to particiate in Tuesday's swearing-in and other events and that "gay and lesbian people everywhere should feel very much welcomed by this administration through that."

This video is from MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show, broadcast Jan. 14, 2009.

Download video via RawReplay.com