Council amends meeting rules on prayer after debate over who may lead opening remarks

New Castle County Council adopted Resolution 26-026 on Feb. 10 to amend its procedural rule regarding the commencement of council meetings and the role of prayer or moments of silence.

The change prompted debate about whether prayers at the start of meetings should be given by outside guests, as the U.S. Supreme Court considered in the Town of Greece decision, or by council members themselves. Council members raised equal‑opportunity concerns about elected officials leading prayer and emphasized that invited guests provide a clearer constitutional line. Mike Migliore, council counsel, summarized the precedent: the Town of Greece decision distinguished communities with a long history of outside‑guest invocation from cases where public officials led prayer.

One council member noted the rule text (quoted in the meeting as a rules citation) establishing a moment of silence that allows attendees to join quietly for reflection or prayer, saying the rule protects individuals' rights to reflect without imposing a specific prayer format.

Public speakers also weighed in. Dora Williams, a long‑time Route 9 resident, told the council that faith and community traditions bring clarity in hard times and urged the body to preserve the practice for those who find comfort in it.

After discussion, the clerk called the roll; the tally was 10 yes, 2 no, 1 absent and President Monique Williams Johns announced the resolution had been adopted. The change revises internal council procedure; implementation details and any guest‑invitation process will be managed under the council's administrative procedures.

The council did not repeal a member's ability to observe a moment of reflection; rather, the amendment clarifies commencement procedure and aligns the council's practice with constitutional considerations described by counsel.