Prayers at Council Meetings
January 11, 2009
Well this is one issue I did not intend to wade into. Certainly an emotional issue, a hot button issue and valid points on all sides. It is a vitally important issue for all of us. My concern was fairly simple: this is not a Roanoke City Council issue.
This issue involves national politics, constitutional law and many judicial opinions on the issue. These are far outside the control of Roanoke City Council. The issue has been debated for decades and this debate will continue. My opinion is that during governmental proceedings we should not at all appear offensive to people of differing faiths and to our diverse population. I am a big fan and have long been supportive of inviting community clergy of different faiths to give a ecumenical prayer at council meetings. However, I assumed this would be with the awareness of what is allowed and not allowed (again outside of our control). What I proposed in my email to council members that the Roanoke Times reported on today was a TEMPORARY stop to inviting community clergy until we can formulate this policy of what is allowed in governmental prayers OR until council has discussed this issue and decided that we want to fight these judicial rulings. Otherwise, I feel strongly that our inaction and non-comments gives validity to the road we seem to be headed down of ignoring these rulings without any discussion among council members.
We are facing very difficult and tough times in our city and I do not think that allowing Roanoke to enter the national stage with such a tumulteous and emotional issue would be healthy for our city. Indeed it would be a huge distraction to many areas needing strong leadership and attention. I worry how some will feel if non-Christian faiths also give prayers that cross the judicial line. Do we need this division at this time?
Keep in mind: I am a Christian, I enjoy Council Prayers- especially Mr. Lea’s prayers, I respect people of all other faiths, and greatly appreciate our diverse community. This is not a Roanoke City Council issue. All I propose is guidelines within the letter of the law so all faiths can contribute to our Council meetings without being offensive or divisive to others.
What are your thoughts.
Dave
[...] member Trinkle explains his email to Council et al. about the need to temporarily halt prayer by non-members until policy [...]
Dave,
I attended Vice-Mayor Lea’s church Sunday and it became clear very quickly how difficult it must be for Sherman to choose his words carefully when he gives an invocation. Let Sherman make his conscience decision. As one member of his congregation said, “he’s got to do what’s best for him.”
That said, it is as you say a very emotional issue. However emotion will have to take a backseat in Council’s decision and instead Council should follow the advice or options presented by the City Attorney.
I don’t think the City wants to challenge the ACLU with all the other challenges the City faces. IMHO
Why is this an issue? The center/main structure in Downtown Roanoke is The City Market Building and instead of wasting time talking about the use of a religious word or connotation we should be focused on the immediate future and our potential tourist dollars.
I think I’ll show up at a Council Meeting, sign up to speak as a citizen, and wear a white tee shirt that says in BIG letters, “CHRIST DIED FOR HIS SINS”. (my personal beliefs have no bearing on this design). What do you think would happen? Would the camera man be told not to shoot me from the front? Would Roanoke City Council be embarrassed? Would my gesture make Roanoke look bad?
How about a shirt that says, “CHRIST ISN”T A COUNCIL MEMBER”?
The next Council Meeting I would think there would be others waiting to speak just so their shirts could be seen and then ‘the box is open’. What would Council do? Would you check peoples shirts before they entered chambers? Would Council become the fashion police?
Think about it. If one Non-Christ shirt appeared (like one person emailing and saying they were offended by the prayer) don’t you think a wave of Christ shirts would materialize at the next meeting? How many other religious shirts would people wear?
This is a lose-lose situation. I would drop it before it gets out of hand.
This City has for way too long mixed religion with politics..we often vote for clergy as Council members..Many Council meetings seem too much like Church and too little like a Buisness meeting which they really are..(a friend who was at the particular meeting where Leas controversial prayer took place..said between the person of the year in Roaboke who was lauded for “Church activities “and Leas prayer it was like a revival meeting)Religion has no place to me at all at Council meetings in my opinion..As with this recent meeting..where the invited Clergy member purposely stoked the fire ..the Council Prayers seem to be used for grandstanding..even Mr Lea seems to say look at me..Im religious..and cant even do a simple prayer..if he cant grandstand then hell take his ball and go home!…The bible says we should pray in private..or prayer closet..not for public show..Why dont we pray at home and at Church….and take care of buisness at Council meetings..
People who have a problem with prayers at things like city council meeting have real problems that they need to address outside of the public square. They need some personal one on one time with a conselor of some sort. They lack self assurance and need some therapy. They need to grow up and respect all culture and religion and stop trying to make others as miserabe as themselves.
Freedom of religion doesn’t mean banning Christian prayer at a city council meeting.
This nation was founded by mostly Christians with Christian beliefs and practices.
If we want God’s favor in this world, we need to address Him both privatly and publicly.
Almost a half century ago the U.S. Supreme Court decided school-led prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. That decision has never been successfully challenged or overturned. It’s the same principal here, only with adults. A Jew, Hindu, Muslim, etc., should be able to attend a city council meeting without being expected to join in someone else’s religious ceremony. Why is that so hard to understand?
I don’t go to church because I don’t want to pray to Jesus. My prerogative. So now I have to avoid attending city council meetings too because I don’t want to pray to Jesus?
Unless you’re comfortable with worshiping Satan at the next city council meeting, please keep your religion to yourself during government functions. (Pray all you want, just don’t make it a quasi-mandatory group function.) Or at least be honest with yourself and others and put a sign on the city hall door that says “No Jews/Muslims/atheists, etc. Allowed.” You are telling people they cannot attend government functions unless they are willing to worship your God and your Christ under your terms. And don’t give me the “you can stand outside during the prayer” argument. They did the same thing to blacks in the South when they made them sit at the back of the bus. Non-Christians are not second-class citizens. Do you want to stand outside while I worship Satan? I realize that’s an extreme example. But hey, freedom of religion, right, not freedom from religion. If you don’t let someone lead a prayer to Satan at city hall, you are taking away their right to practice their religion, using your line of reasoning.