Lewiston City Council Explores Prayer at Meeting Openings

The Lewiston City Council is considering introducing a prayer at the beginning of its meetings. During a recent work session on October 16, 2023, the council discussed this proposal without reaching a formal vote. Councilor Jessica Klein initiated the conversation, directing her colleagues to explore the potential benefits and implications of such a change.

Klein believes that starting meetings with a prayer could provide “additional guidance” to council members. She noted that similar practices are already in place at the federal level, where both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives begin sessions with a prayer. According to a report included in the council’s meeting materials, prepared by Dan Chambers, the pastor of Klein’s church, Tammany View Baptist, the council could designate a local police chaplain to lead the prayer. Although Lewiston currently lacks a police chaplain, Klein mentioned the possibility of adopting a lottery system, similar to that of Coeur d’Alene, to select individuals to offer prayers.

With 36 council meetings scheduled annually and approximately 40 churches in Lewiston, Klein emphasized that this initiative could enhance community involvement. She suggested that the invocation might take various forms, including a moment of silence or a prayer delivered by a council member.

Implementing a prayer would require the council to pass a resolution, amending city code to incorporate an invocation into the list of activities defined as “opening exercises.” Currently, the “opening exercises” include calls to order, the pledge of allegiance, and public comments, as outlined on the city of Lewiston’s official website.

Council members expressed differing opinions regarding the proposal. Councilor John Spickelmire indicated support if it would not impose additional duties on staff and enhance decision-making. Councilor Matthew Wright echoed this sentiment, suggesting that inviting local clergy to lead prayers could foster greater participation from their congregations.

In contrast, Council President Jim Kleeburg voiced his opposition, cautioning that the council’s primary responsibility is policy setting. He raised concerns about unintended consequences, suggesting that the inclusion of prayers could lead to requests from various religious groups, creating potential conflicts. Kleeburg asserted that the council should not engage in practices that may not align with the community’s evolving views on organized religion, noting a decline in participation across faiths in the United States over the past decade.

Klein acknowledged the challenges of implementing a prayer policy, stating that while the council cannot discriminate against prayer providers, there would be guidelines to ensure that the prayers do not promote specific faiths or solicit new memberships. She highlighted that many cities have established frameworks to navigate these issues and mitigate the risk of legal challenges.

Despite the potential for offense, Klein emphasized that participation in prayer would not be mandatory. “As an adult, you have the ability to participate or not participate in prayer,” she stated, reinforcing the idea that attendance at council meetings should remain inclusive.

Councilor Kassee Forsmann supported further research into the proposal, particularly examining how other municipalities have successfully integrated prayer into their meetings. The council plans to revisit this topic in a future session as they gather more information.

This ongoing discussion reflects broader societal questions about the role of religion in public life and the balance between tradition and inclusivity in community governance.