The Opening Prayer of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA Was Addressed To (Wait for it!!)...Allah.

Jeff Foxworthy's famous line is 'Folks, I just can't make this stuff up'.

Well, evidently the leadership of the PCUSA, that staid and rapidly-shrinking denomination, can:

Here is the transcript of the imam's prayer:

“Allah bless us and bless our families and bless our Lord. Lead us on the straight path – the path of all the prophets: Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Peace be upon them all Amen.
“In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful, let us praise the Lord. The creator of the universe, the most merciful, the most compassionate and the Lord of the universe who has created us and made us into nations and tribes, from male and females that we may know each other, not that we might despise each other, or may despise each other. Incline towards peace and justice and trust in God, for the Lord is one that hears and knows everything and the servants of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful, gracious are those who walk in the earth in humility and when bigots and hateful and Islamaphobes address them, they say peace. Peace be upon them and peace be upon Allah.”

And, just in case you think OS is spoofing you--here's the video, published by the PCUSA themselves. The prayer is at the 14-minute mark, but if you wish to warm up a bit to it, you can bask in the early 60's folk-song rendition of 'We Shall Overcome' that serves as the call to worship...