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McGuffey board approves monthly prayer item limited to district pastors after heated debate
Summary
The board voted 6–3 to add prayer to the monthly agenda, amended to limit prayers to ministers or pastors from community churches within the district; the change drew both praise and sharp criticism from public commenters.
The McGuffey School District Board voted March 20 to add an item for prayer to its monthly agenda, approving an amendment that limits the prayer to ministers or pastors from the district's community churches.
Board members debated both process and content before the vote. A motion to approve an agenda item for prayer was amended to read that the prayer be led "by a minister or pastor of the district's community churches" following solicitor guidance; the amended motion passed on a 6–3 vote.
Supporters framed the amendment as a way to restore a community practice and provide chaplaincy-style opening remarks. Opponents argued the change risked exclusion of residents who worship outside the district or represent other faiths and raised concerns about separating church and state.
Public comment reflected the split: some residents praised the board for reinstating prayer and said they would support trustees who voted in favor; others said narrowing the policy to pastors inside the district was unfair to worshipers who attend houses of worship outside McGuffey boundaries.
The board characterized the amendment as non‑actionable community tradition rather than a policy that changes district operations. The motion carried; the board did not specify an implementation schedule beyond adding the item to future monthly agendas.
Board staff said the solicitor recommended the narrower wording because the topic had become a community issue; the board said it would rely on the solicitor's guidance about how to invite ministers or pastors moving forward.
