Monday night, Spartanburg County Council voted 4 to 3 in favor of adopting a prayer policy.
The issue at hand centers on concerns over the county's practice of opening council meetings with a christian prayer.
The city of Woodruff recently revised their policy on the matter (see related link).
The issue is whether or not the practice violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Furthermore, the possible violations in the county have gained the attention of a Wisconsin based group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, which says the government agencY is alienating non-christians and non-believers by opening meetings with a christian prayer.
The issue first came to light in March 2010.
Councilman O'Neal Mintz gave a controversial prayer at the March 15 meeting in place of the chaplain, who was absent. Mintz' comments about Jesus Christ, abortion and same-sex marriage prompted complaint.
A federal court ruled in 2004 that public bodies cannot name the deity of a specific religion in a prayer.
The new policy says an invocation will continue, however, “no person shall proselytize or advance any one faith or disparage any other faith.”
The council hopes this measure will reduce the chance of a lawsuit being filed against the county for promoting christianity, and hopes it will reduce division in the community, especially for those who felt the prayers, such as those given by Mr. Mintz, were exclusionary and offensive.
However, Councilman Mintz, who voted against the policy, told News Channel 7, if asked to give the invocation again, he would not hesitate to break the policy and possibly break state and federal laws, to promote his religious views.
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