But it may have been one of the most significant inaugural events, as many believe that without the African American church, they would not be witnessing this momentous time in history.
"People asked 'Why an African American Church Inaugural Ball?'" Roland S Martin, a nationally syndicated columnist and master of ceremony at Sunday's ball, said to hundreds gathered at the Grand Hyatt Regency Hotel.
"Without the African American church, we couldn't have gotten through all of that," he said, referring to a montage of celebrated African Americans who paved the way for the election of the country's first president of African descent.
It is certainly a time of jubilee, pride and honour for the African American church. Each time President-elect Obama was mentioned or shown in a video, attendees at the ball excitedly arose in applause and shouts of joy.
"No one can fully understand the joy, the significance, the celebration that the African American church feels for the election and the inauguration of Barack Obama," Rick Warren, of Purpose-Driven fame, told The Christian Post at the ball. "It's amazing."
While they praise the 44th president and the glass ceiling he has shattered, many have not forgotten the sacrifice and the faith that has brought them to this point.
"We have come this far by faith, we've been saved by faith, we have marched by faith, we've protested by faith, we got the Voting Rights Act by faith and now Barack Obama has achieved this monumental historical moment by the faith of so many, not just black people, but black and white and Asian," said Bishop Donald Hilliard of Cathedral International and co-chair of the inaugural ball.
