"If we take the people of faith off the agenda, we've ruled out most of the world because most of the world has some faith," said the pastor of Southern California's Saddleback Church. "There's already an army ready to be mobilized, an army of compassion."
Warren, author of the best-selling book "The Purpose-Driven Life," is an evangelical Christian who has broadened the ministry of his church beyond the usual concerns of the religious right to include a focus on the environment, poverty and education.
In urging a greater role for churches, Warren cited the example of Rwanda, which he said had few hospitals and clinics to deal with the health care needs of hundreds of thousands of people -- but hundreds of churches.
"Somehow we have to figure out how to get business and government and churches to work together," he said.
The Clinton Global Initiative began Wednesday with an all-star roster of guests including both presidential candidates, former Vice President Al Gore, Bono and Lance Armstrong.
