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Council hears constituent request to replace opening prayer with moment of silence; members agree to allow both
Summary
A constituent requested that the DeKalb County Council replace its opening prayer with a moment of silence. Councilors discussed and agreed to continue the current practice while allowing a short moment of silence if requested by the person offering the prayer.
A constituent raised the issue of the council'opening prayer; the council discussed whether to replace the prayer with a moment of silence and reached a consensus to continue the existing practice while permitting a brief moment of silence when the invited person leading the opening prayer prefers.
Several council members said they had received constituent feedback both supporting and opposing the prayer. One council member described the opening prayer as "the calm before the storms" of budget deliberations and said they had no objection to keeping the prayer. Another councilor suggested the two practices could be combined: allow the person providing the invocation to request a short moment of silence before or after the prayer so members could collect their thoughts.
Outcome: By consensus the council agreed to leave the practice in place and allow the prayer-giver the option to ask for a moment of silence. No ordinance or rule change was proposed or adopted.
Why it matters: The discussion responded to a constituent request and clarified the council's approach; staff and members noted no statute requires either approach and council discretion governs the practice.
