One Complaint Puts Prayer at Risk in West Virginia Town

May 27, 2008
The founder of Charles Town, West Virginia, originally named his estate, “Happy Retreat,” according to the city’s history.  Sounds like an understandable description of the community nestled near the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.  Now, however, one “unhappy” resident is making some extraordinary demands of the city’s leaders.

A sole complaint over the city council’s tradition of starting its meetings with an invocation has led to a change in policy.  Council members were forced into rejecting the long-standing prayer tradition in favor of a politically-correct “moment of silence” instead.   But what is really being silenced?  The constitutional rights of Charles Town residents who wish to seek God’s wisdom for their town.

The Alliance Defense Fund and the Family Policy Council of West Virginia are working to break the silence.  Charles Town officials recently received, from the FPC, a model prayer policy designed by ADF attorneys that should allow city council members to stand on solid constitutional footing when they choose to open their meetings with prayer.

“A prayer in public meetings shouldn’t be banned just because a Christian or religious person delivers it.  The First Amendment allows public officials to acknowledge our nation’s religious heritage,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Mike Johnson.  “The practice of opening public meetings with prayer has always been lawful.  The Constitution protects public officials who choose to invoke divine guidance and blessings upon their work.”

A copy of the policy sent to Charles Town City Council members is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/CharlesTownPrayerPolicy.pdf.  A copy of the letter sent to the council members is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/CharlesTownPrayerLetter.pdf.

Because of increasing attacks against the tradition of opening government meetings with a public prayer, ADF attorneys have crafted a model invocations policy that addresses any constitutional concerns regarding such prayers.  Versions of this policy have been adopted by numerous government bodies in Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.  We must remain vigilant.  Attacks on people of faith will certainly continue . . . but together we can continue to meet those attacks – and win!