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Council debate over codifying prayer at meetings highlights tension between tradition and constitutionality
Summary
Council members debated Resolution 26-026 to amend procedural rules to address commencement practices; proponents said a moment for prayer or silence reflects constituents’ wishes, while others raised constitutional and inclusivity concerns. No final vote is recorded in the transcript excerpt.
On Feb. 10 the Administrative Finance Committee discussed Resolution 26-026, a proposed amendment to council procedural rule No. 4 addressing how meetings commence.
Council President Monique Williams Johns urged recognition of constituent requests for prayer or a moment of silence and framed the proposal as responsive to more than 600,000 residents. "If you all don't want prayer, that's up to you," she said, adding the change…
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