Monday night, the Coatesville, Pennsylvania City council adopted a new policy on prayer at Council meetings. Philadelphia's Daily Local reports that the new policy allows Council members to pray together -- acting as private citizens-- before official city business is discussed at a Council meeting. The prayer, that may be offered by any Council member who wishes to, will not be considered city business. The new policy responds to objections that arose after a meeting last month in which City Council President Patsy Ray, a minister, asked everyone in the room to stand and hold hands, and City Councilman Kurt Schenk, also a minister, delivered a Christian prayer. (See prior posting.)
UPDATE: Tuesday's Daily Local published an interesting editorial criticizing Council's new policy, saying: "What City Council needs to do is meet at the local diner, the local burger joint, the nearest mall. But it can’t just meet as a governing body in a city building and pray — but not call it prayer."
