In Theory:

Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren managed to score a little coup in the presidential campaign when he convinced John McCain and Barack Obama to appear together for a forum. Warren will spend an hour separately with each candidate asking questions. Though each Q-and-A session will be separate the presumptive nominees will share the stage together for a few minutes at some point during the forum. If you could host a forum with the candidates, what would you ask them?

Oh, I so hate being limited to one question. There are so many areas neither candidate has covered.

I would like to know how they hear God in the rhythm of their lives. What are concrete examples of nudges, words and pangs of conscience that influenced them? I would also love to know how each candidate manages his staff. I think the model they use to run a staff tells volumes about how they will run the country.

But the most important question is, “How do you see yourself as the nation’s pastor?”

In light of the national and global disasters that have become collective grief, it is a critical question. There are times when the president will need to be both a voice of hope and a witness of the suffering.

It’s an easy role to miss. It’s easy to miss the moment. When does a local tragedy become national or global? Bill Clinton got it right in Oklahoma. George W. Bush missed in it in Louisiana and Mississippi. I would like to know how each candidate has prepared himself to lead us during grief and what persons or plans he has to help him catch the moment.

Mark Wiley

Pastor

Mesa Verde United Methodist Church

Costa Mesa

As a proponent for peace, I was against the war when it began five years ago, so I want to see how the candidates will get us out of it in a responsible manner that cares for human life, our soldiers and the Iraqi people.

I am consumed with angst surrounding our health-care system and believe access to health care is a human right. I am not satisfied with either of their stances on this topic. I believe it is imperative they recognize the dire circumstances Americans face every day. It is deplorable that being sick can break the bank of nearly anyone in this country, let alone the working poor.

I would ask each of them to think back to when they were a child and ask what image they had of the president, how will they be the president that our children can be proud of, our adults will respect and our neighboring nations will want to partner with?