 |
|
|
|
|
|
Let us not pray Smith town council votes to drop opening prayer
Paul Bickford
Councillors voted 5-1 in favour of the move at a Dec. 18 meeting, the last one to be opened with a short prayer. "We have a number of councillors who expressed interest in removing prayer from the agenda and they wanted to separate church and state," Mayor Brad Brake said following the meeting, explaining the feeling is that society has many different religions. "So we just want to not show any favouritism to any one particular sector or faith." The only councillor to vote against dropping the prayer was Al Dumont, who said he did not agree with the reasoning for abolishing it. Dumont told his fellow councillors that religion does have a role to play "anywhere that you go." When contacted by News/North, Dumont said he couldn't understand council's desire to drop the prayer. "It's not something that's going to take tons of time away from a meeting and I think giving respect to the Lord is the proper thing to do before a meeting," he said. Dumont also pointed out the short opening prayer was non-denominational. Coun. Lou Sebert voted in favour of dropping the opening prayer. "Traditionally, there had not been a prayer," Sebert told News/North, noting it had only been instituted two or three years ago by the previous council. The councillor also noted a Christian-based prayer is not appropriate for council meetings. "We do live in a multicultural, multi-religious community." Sebert also added that, in general, he thinks there should be a division between church and state. "It's not as though council is anti-religious," he said. As mayor, Brake led the prayer, which was very non-specific in calling on the help of a deity. "I just basically asked the creator spirit to be among us as we debated the decisions of the Town of Fort Smith and that we leave as friends," he said, noting the prayer did not refer to any specific religion. Brake also invited people to stand and pray "if it is your wont." Rev. David Lehmann of St. John's Anglican Church said he has no particular objection to councillors dropping the prayer. "I'd rather see them not praying than insincerely praying," said Lehmann, who moderated a candidates' debate prior to October's municipal election and led the candidates and residents in prayer.
|
