WV Town Replaces Lord's Prayer with Moment of Silence
Tuesday May 6, 2008
In Charles Town, West Virginia, there's been a surprising move by the town council. In the past, they've opened all their council meetings with the Lord's Prayer; now, following a complaint by a Jewish resident, they've decided to go with an all-inclusive moment of silence instead. The 7 - 1 vote came after council convened in an executive session with the city attorney.
One council member said her vote was based on legal advice from attorney Amy Brown. The prayer first became an issue when a Jewish resident wrote to Charles Town mayor Peggy Smith, saying he was "offended" by the use of the Lord's Prayer before a public meeting. The resident has said that he never intended to file a lawsuit against the city, and had been attending meeting because of his concerns about the demolition of a historic property by a local Baptist church.
Councilwoman Geraldine Willingham cast the dissenting vote, saying, “I think it’s a sad day for Charles Town where we cannot start our council meetings off with the Lord’s prayer all because of one negative person."
One council member said her vote was based on legal advice from attorney Amy Brown. The prayer first became an issue when a Jewish resident wrote to Charles Town mayor Peggy Smith, saying he was "offended" by the use of the Lord's Prayer before a public meeting. The resident has said that he never intended to file a lawsuit against the city, and had been attending meeting because of his concerns about the demolition of a historic property by a local Baptist church.
Councilwoman Geraldine Willingham cast the dissenting vote, saying, “I think it’s a sad day for Charles Town where we cannot start our council meetings off with the Lord’s prayer all because of one negative person."
Comments
Why not? Not everyone is a Christian, and the moment of silence is a lot better, Christians can take the time to pray in that moment of silence, and not offending atheists, Jews, etc. while they have their own thoughts or prayers or whatever it is they do during a moment of silence. The world is not a fair place, so not everyone is going to have what they want.
I think a moment of silence is a good idea. It’s too bad someone voted to continue the prayer; perhaps the councilwoman was afraid of offending her constituents?
Yes, Ms. Willingham. That “negative person” was code for your true beliefs about anybody who does not believe what you believe. The fact is that many others may have been uncomfortable with a secular prayer, but let it go. Why does everybody have to believe as you do? Maybe you would like to round up all the negative people and place a symbol on their clothing so we can ridicule them publicly and take away their rights if they refuse to say the Lord’s Prayer. Nice work Willingham.
as the reporter who has been writing about this from the get go i was pleasantly suprised by the council’s vote. i’m glad rational thought prevailed. i’m sad, though, that Rich became the focal point of a lot of local anger. i know for a fact he got phone calls from people telling him jew boy go home. it’s so sad because charles town really is diverse and open minded but like everywhere there’s a few bad apples. on a side note, wiccan’s are some of the nicest people i’ve ever met and are very tolerant, unlike some people in this town. the mere fact i had to report that Mr. Schaffer is Jewish just made me feel, I don’t know, weird. It really has no relevance except when in the context of a story where he is getting verbally attacked by people of another faith.
It really is sad Edward. And also sad when people start to abuse their rights. Religion and beliefs has a place for compromise.
Under current US Supreme Court rulings governments may open meetings with prayer. I would be more inclusive and welcome all prayers… including those in Jesus’ Name and those in Hebrew etc.
Other city and county governments and school boards continue the practice. Surprisingly it done about half the local governments in some states. You’d get a different impression from the liberal media. Glad we have the internet!
The only way most of us would find that acceptable, Friend, is if at least one deity from every belief system present were mentioned. Which, of course, can go wrong, as in polytheistic religions, one deity is not at all enough. And yeah, like that’s ever going to happen anyway.
How would you feel if every meeting were opened with a prayer to Vishnu, or Zeus, or one of the Vodun (right?) Orishas?
And whether or not other local governments do it or not is irrelevant. If a purely Jewish town prays to Yahweh, fine. But in this town, there are differences. The Christians must be willing to either add all religions present to those spoken to in the prayer, or be unjust in leaving out anyone of the town. Especially for something as silly to get upset about as differing religions.
Natascha,
You asked how would I feel? I reply it doesn’t matter how I feel. So what?
What does matter are laws and human rights. And in America the Christian faith has made us righteous before God in the past and God has made us great as a nation… even to the present.
The Supreme Court has ruled that as long as the prayer forum is open to all faiths, it is lawful. A lawful way that has recently been blessed by the federal court is to invite all religious groups with a phone book listing and register them on a first-come, first-served basis. That fact that mostly evangelical Christians cared enough to pray is their free choice. A radical secularist group sued to ban such prayers, and the federal courts held against them.
This is the American Way! We are a nation of faith with a Christian heritage. There is no need to ban prayers in the public forum. Let God’s People honor Him.
Does anyone have a muzzle?
For this is sad , I live in WV and I didn’t know about this until now. For I know there was one school that had a pic. of the Lord up it had been there for a long time and it came up missing, I don’t think they ever did find it.
As for this the ones that wish to do could do but I don’t think they should make all the kids.
How do you think are kids that go to public school’s would feel?
Way to go WV! It’s nice to see such a progressive community. I wish I lived in one. =)
Friend:
Oddly enough, there were people who lived here for thousands and thousands of years before the Vikings ‘discovered’ this land… and then later Columbus and the other Europeans. Those people had an entire cultures that managed just as well as the Europeans did (and in some ways better!). I think it is safe to say that our country at this point should be inclusive of all faiths and thoughts. And if by not saying a prayer straight out of a Christian book, and allowing for a moment of silence, we can make life a bit more compassionate and respectful for everyone, then that is what should be done. It is a small thing, and it harms no one to do it.
I am offended by silence that begins any meeting. What ya gonna do? I propose, to make me happy, that everyone bring an MP3 Player and for one minute before the meeting starts, you play your favorite music/prayer. That will/should keep everyone happy.