Woodruff City Council met in a special meeting Tuesday night to outline the city's prayer policy.
The issue at hand centers on questions and concerns over the city's practice of opening council meetings with a christian prayer.
Spartanburg County has been dealing with a similar issue.
At 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."
The possible violations in the city and county have gained the attention of a Wisconsin based group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, which says the government agencies are alienating non-christians and non-believers by opening meetings with a christian prayer.
The group sent the city of Woodruff a letter asking for the end of prayer opening public meetings, or a substitution of a moment of silence. The organization is considering legal action against the county and Woodruff, over the issue.
In their new policy, the city plans to continue an opening prayer, on the grounds:
"Such invocation is not, in these circumstances, an 'establishment' of religion, or a step towards establishment"
"Such prayer before deliberative public bodies has been consistently upheld by American courts, including the United States supreme court."
However, the new policy also calls upon the board to do a better job of finding pastors from multiple faiths to lead the prayer. However, the Mayor told our coverage partners at the Spartanburg Herald Journal, all 31 of the congregations in Woodruff are Christian. So that make not change the outlook.
Furthermore, the city's new plan calls for the prayer to take place before the officials start of the meeting.
Also, a disclaimer will be written on all council agenda's explaining that the views of the person giving the prayer is not the view of the council.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement