A public commenter told the Pueblo West Metro District board on Sept. 22 she objects to opening meetings with a Christian prayer and urged the board to require nondenominational invocations that are inclusive of non-Christian attendees. The board and staff responded that a 2023 board resolution permits any resident of Pueblo West to sign up and give the invocation and that the board has asked for nondenominational or non-discriminatory language.

Zandra Hamilton, a member of the public, said she had raised the issue months earlier and asked that invocations be inclusive. “Not everybody in this meeting or online is a Christian. Not everybody prays to Jesus Christ,” she said. “If you are going to prayer, pray, you really should be praying to everybody and not just a select group of people.”

Board and staff replies
Board members and staff told Hamilton the board’s policy is open to residents of any denomination or of no denomination, and several officials said the district clerk maintains a schedule of volunteers. Bridal Mignone, the district clerk, confirmed an online sign-up process and said the board’s resolution adopted in 2023 sets rules for invocations, including nondiscriminatory language and time limits.

Legal context and outreach
Carl (county/counsel/staff) told the board that the district’s practice is permissible under U.S. Supreme Court guidance and lower-court decisions on legislative invocations, and that the board had adopted language to allow anyone to sign up. Christian J. Hein, district manager, said the board had previously resolved the procedures for the invocation and that staff had reached out to local faith leaders to fill the schedule.

Why it matters: The exchange underscores an ongoing local sensitivity about religious expression at public meetings. The district’s current approach is to allow volunteers from Pueblo West to provide invocations so long as they comply with the 2023 resolution’s nondiscriminatory requirements; staff also said they would accept requests and provide sign-up information to residents who want to give an invocation.

Ending: Staff said they will confirm and publicize the sign-up process (contact Bridal Mignone at bMignoni@PuebloWestMetro.US) and that the board’s adopted resolution requires invocations to be nondiscriminatory and allows participation by residents of Pueblo West.