The Freedom From Religion Foundation is pleased to learn that the Tulsa (Okla.) City Council recently voted to end its divisive practice of starting meetings with prayer.
The national state/church watchdog wrote to the City Council in November urging members to end the practice of opening meetings with religious invocations in response to pressure from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Superintendent Ryan Walters. They and other Christian nationalist officials had urged the council to restrict opening invocations to Christians after a pagan prayer was delivered at a board meeting.
A “priestess of the goddess” delivered the opening prayer at the Nov. 20 City Council meeting, making several references to deities such as Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology. She urged the council to “protect … the sovereignty and autonomy of all our people” and “to be champions for all in this city, not just those in power.” FFRF legal counsel Chris Line wrote the city, “We agree that government-sponsored prayers to a deity that you do not believe in are alienating,” adding: “The best policy, the most inclusive policy, is to stop prayers altogether and get straight to the business of working for Tulsa.”
Last week, the City Council voted 8-1 to change the format from scheduling an invocation to instead pausing for a “moment of silent prayer or personal reflection.”
This move by the Tulsa City Council demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and respect for the diverse beliefs of the Tulsa community. By adopting a moment of silence, the council ensures that individuals of all faiths and those who adhere to no faith can participate in the democratic process without feeling excluded or proselytized.
“Government meetings should focus on serving the public good, not on promoting religious practices,” says Dan Barker, FFRF co-president. “This change ensures that the City Council chambers are welcoming to everyone, regardless of their personal beliefs.”
FFRF commends the Tulsa City Council for its thoughtful and inclusive decision. The organization encourages other cities and governing bodies that may still be hosting prayers to adopt similar measures in order to promote unity and respect America’s commitment to “E Pluribus Unum” (“From Many, [come] One”).
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit with 40,000 members across the country, including hundreds of members in Oklahoma. Its purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on nontheism.
Photo by Caleb Long
