Invocations at Fresno City Council Meetings?

I believe the recent discussion about the appropriateness of invocations at Fresno City Council meetings is timely and worth having. While I am not a constitutional scholar, there are legitimate issues that are raised when an elected body that sets public policy involving raising and spending tax dollars begins a public meeting by invoking religion, particularly if it is primarily Christianity.

First of all, let's be clear about invocations. There is no requirement for beginning a public meeting with a religious invocation. The practice varies from locality to locality and by state to state. Locally, it is my understanding that the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and the Clovis City Council, for example, refrain from the practice of invocations. On the other hand, many localities do.

What makes the invocation dicey on a constitutional level is when the invocation is always tied to one primary religion, in this case Christianity. This narrow approach of favoring one religion over others could and probably would be considered a constitutional violation of the principle of separation of church and state. An invocation practice, on the other hand, that broadens the participation to all religious groups and/or practices would probably, but not assuredly, meet constitutional muster.

The practice of the Fresno City Council is to rotate among council members the responsibility for inviting individuals to give the invocation as the first action of the weekly council meetings. When it was "my turn" during the eight years I served as a council member, I tried to select representatives of non-Christian religions and sects, secular not-for-profit leaders, readings from spiritual and non-spiritual books, and even musical performances from area artists. To be perfectly honest, I was troubled by the council's practice of primarily selecting Christian denominations to give the invocation.

Rather than criticize those who might question the current invocation practice, I would encourage Mayor Swearengin and the council to take this opportunity to redefine what an invocation should be. The essential question should be is how the elected representatives of Fresno can best WELCOME everyone--regardless of race, creed, religion, age or sex--to participate in the governance process of meeting the essential needs of a great city. And if it is deemed necessary and appropriate to call on a higher presence, let those representatives of a higher presence include all the world's religions.

Coming Soon...

1. And you think Fresno has budget challenges...try the City of Sacramento!
2. College students, program reviews and jobs.
3. "Choice" for parents and students in our local schools.

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com