By Jill Serjeant

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Dec 1 (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and a leading U.S. evangelical pastor pledged on Friday to work together in an unusual and controversial meeting of minds on the fight against AIDS.

Obama, an abortion rights supporter from Illinois and a potential presidential contender, and Rick Warren, leader of the Saddleback Valley Community Church, brushed aside criticism from some conservative church leaders angry at Obama's presence at an AIDS conference designed to rally Christians to fight the global pandemic.

"It is time for a coalition of civility. We can treat each other with respect and work together," said Warren, joining hands and standing in prayer with Obama and Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, another conference speaker and possible presidential contender.

"Our goal has been to put people together who normally won't even speak to each other," said Warren, author of a best-selling inspirational book, "The Purpose Driven Life."

Eighteen leaders in the anti-abortion movement sent Warren a letter this week saying Obama had no place at the Saddleback pulpit because of his stance on abortion.

"If Sen. Obama cannot defend the most helpless citizens in this country, he has nothing to say to the AIDS crisis. You cannot fight one evil while justifying another," said the letter signed by the presidents of the American Family Association, the American Life League and others.

Obama told the conference of some 2,000 Christians, AIDS organizations and church leaders from 18 countries that AIDS required a "change in hearts and minds, in cultures and attitudes."

"AIDS is a challenge not only of our willingness to respond but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that response," said Obama, winning a standing ovation from the audience.

'LATE TO THE PARTY'

The conference was organized on World AIDS Day by Warren's church in Southern California, which attracts some 22,000 people to services each week and is one of the largest churches in the United States.

Warren said evangelicals -- some of whom have regarded AIDS as God's punishment for gay sex -- had been "late to the party in this particular crisis."

"We have had to repent over that. But now we are here to stay," said Warren. "It is the church that needs to take the lead on HIV/AIDS."

Obama said he respectfully disagreed with people who oppose condom use as a means of HIV/AIDS prevention because they believe it encourages promiscuity.

"I do not accept the notion that those who make mistakes in their lives should be given an effective death sentence," he said.

The Saddleback church says the aim of the conference was to encourage millions of Christians in the United States and around the world to become caregivers, use churches as centers for help and campaign to prevent AIDS at home and in Africa.

In a bid to reduce the stigma of AIDS testing, Obama, Warren and Brownback each took a mouth swab test for the disease during a news conference. The results, back in 20 minutes, were negative for all three.

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