An excerpt from a letter Warren sent to his congregants suggests his reach. He noted that three Republican and three Democratic presidential candidates contacted the church during the primaries:
"You know that I never endorse, nor campaign for, political candidates. Neither is it my role to give political advice. But I am a cultural observer and I do understand the unique stresses and responsibilities of public leadership, so I try to help leaders when asked."
But detractors see Warren as a spiritual entrepreneur who has built his religious empire on what they call generic self-help ideas found in "The Purpose Driven Life."
"For many evangelical leaders, Rick Warren is either a little too naive or a little too shrewd," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, a Washington group that works to meld Christian teachings into the debate over public policies.
"He is threatening to water down the essential message of evangelical Christianity," Schenck said. "And that is what causes people to grow a little insecure and concerned, and maybe even disconcerted."
Warren insists that he remains firmly tied to his Southern Baptist roots.
He opposes abortion and defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. He has hosted politically conservative figures, such as Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).
But Warren says he is also inspired by the broader message of faith and compassion in the Bible.
The forum with McCain and Obama, he said, is his latest attempt to introduce civility into public discourse, even if it irks some of his fellow evangelicals. Warren faced biting criticism in 2006 when Obama spoke at his church for a global AIDS summit. Last year Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) appeared at another AIDS conference at the church.
"Jesus told us to love our neighbor," Warren said, "even if they don't agree with you."
That message -- and another perhaps more central one about divining God's purpose -- have helped Warren build one of the nation's most formidable religious networks.
At the center of the operation is Saddleback Church, which occupies 120 acres in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.
The church, with nearly 400 employees, features nine types of weekend services, including one in the cavernous "worship center," with seating for about 3,000 and Warren's image beamed on jumbo screens.
More than 180,000 pastors and other church leaders subscribe to his weekly "ministry toolbox" e-mail.
